Latest news with #JRRTolkien
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Hobbit-style home on sale for huge 7-figure sum includes swimming pool, snug and has name LOTR fans will recognise
Grade II-listed property spans 3,900 sq ft and even has a games room LORD IT UP Hobbit-style home on sale for huge 7-figure sum includes swimming pool, snug and has name LOTR fans will recognise Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A HOBBIT-style home is up for grabs — for an other-worldly £1.35million. The earth-covered architectural wonder, built into the natural contours of the countryside, looks straight out of the Lord of the Rings. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 This hobbit-style home is on sale for £1.35million 5 The Grade II-listed property has an hourglass-shaped swimming pool 5 It spans 3,900 sq ft with four bedrooms 5 It is situated in Holme Valley on the outskirts of the Peak District The mostly subterranean property is called Underhill — a neighbourhood in the JRR Tolkien books and an alias used by Frodo Baggins. It spans 3,900 sq ft with four bedrooms, high-spec kitchen, a snug with log burner, and a games room. The Grade II-listed property also has an hourglass-shaped swimming pool beneath a large skylight, landscaped gardens, a paddock, a double-garage and a stone shepherd's hut. It is situated in Holme Valley on the outskirts of the Peak District in West Yorks. Arthur Quarmby, who designed the home, lived in it with his family for 41 years after it was finished in 1975. Estate agency Fine & Country describes it a 'pioneering feat of sustainable design and a work of inhabitable art' with 'enchanting surprises around every corner'. The current seller, who bought it in 2016, said: 'Underhill has been a truly magical family home. 'It's a home that speaks to people and brings much curiosity.' 5 The home is inspired by the beloved book and film franchise Lord of the Rings... pictured: Elijah Wood as Hobbit Frodo in the the movie trilogy
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Suburb 'likely' helped inspire Tolkien's Shire
Residents in a Nottinghamshire suburb say they are convinced JRR Tolkien's vision of Hobbiton was partly based on their area. Francis Rodrigues, from Gedling, paused his TV while watching a piece on the news about the sale of a first edition of The Hobbit. He called his wife through and she confirmed she was seeing the same thing – that an illustration of The Shire by the Lord of the Rings author depicted nearby Arnold Lane. Two Tolkien historians told the BBC they thought the evidence was compelling. Mr Rodrigues was one of several people to spot the connection from news reports. "I'm very convinced. You can see straight away that's Arnold Lane," he said. "It's nice to know he walked the streets I walked… and wow, I'm following in his footsteps." The 75-year-old pointed to the bend in the road and similarities between the drawn mill in the foreground and the real All Hallows Church. He also pointed out the similarity in shape and position between farm buildings in the image and Phoenix Farm. This was a farm, owned by Tolkien's aunt, where the author is known to have stayed and written the poem which began his work on Middle Earth. The farm overlooked Arnold Lane. The road has been reshaped and some of the buildings destroyed since Tolkien visited in the early 1900s. The surrounding fields and countryside have also been turned into housing. But comparisons with old black and white images of the road convinced many on social media of the connection. There is much debate about which locations inspired Tolkien's landscapes. In a newspaper interview Tolkien said the Shire was "inspired by a few cherished square miles of actual countryside at Sarehole", an area in the West Midlands. But John Garth, Tolkien biographer and author of a book on the places that inspired Middle-earth, pointed out the image does not look much like Sarehole. After looking at the old images of the road and old ordinance survey maps, he said it was "rather likely" some of the illustration drew on what Tolkien saw in Gedling. "The place was very special to him," he said. "He was happy to put personal references and in-jokes into The Hobbit. "Even if he hadn't intended it, I can imagine his aunt would have opened the book and thought 'oh look, this looks like my old farm'. "There's a really quite a good case to be made here for direct inspiration." Andrew Morton, author of Tolkien's Gedling, was initially sceptical. He said he often hears people coming up with "fantastic ideas" connecting Tolkien to the landscape. But after seeing the evidence, he said: "It's quite compelling, your readers are onto something here. "It's reasonable to think he'd have dug [Arnold Lane] out of his memory and incorporated it into his landscape. "Although you have to be careful, or you'll end up with Bilbo Baggins living at Mapperley Top." Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. More on this story Rare copy of The Hobbit sells for 'record-breaking' sum Tolkien society suggests author for new banknotes Tolkien blue plaque unveiled at railway station
BBC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Gedling 'likely' helped inspire Tolkien's Shire
Residents in a Nottinghamshire suburb say they are convinced JRR Tolkien's vision of Hobbiton was partly based on their Rodrigues, from Gedling, paused his TV while watching a piece on the news about the sale of a first edition of The called his wife through and she confirmed she was seeing the same thing – that an illustration of The Shire by the Lord of the Rings author depicted nearby Arnold Tolkien historians told the BBC they thought the evidence was compelling. Mr Rodrigues was one of several people to spot the connection from news reports. "I'm very convinced. You can see straight away that's Arnold Lane," he said."It's nice to know he walked the streets I walked… and wow, I'm following in his footsteps." The 75-year-old pointed to the bend in the road and similarities between the drawn mill in the foreground and the real All Hallows also pointed out the similarity in shape and position between farm buildings in the image and Phoenix was a farm, owned by Tolkien's aunt, where the author is known to have stayed and written the poem which began his work on Middle farm overlooked Arnold road has been reshaped and some of the buildings destroyed since Tolkien visited in the early surrounding fields and countryside have also been turned into comparisons with old black and white images of the road convinced many on social media of the connection. There is much debate about which locations inspired Tolkien's a newspaper interview Tolkien said the Shire was "inspired by a few cherished square miles of actual countryside at Sarehole", an area in the West John Garth, Tolkien biographer and author of a book on the places that inspired Middle-earth, pointed out the image does not look much like looking at the old images of the road and old ordinance survey maps, he said it was "rather likely" some of the illustration drew on what Tolkien saw in Gedling."The place was very special to him," he said."He was happy to put personal references and in-jokes into The Hobbit."Even if he hadn't intended it, I can imagine his aunt would have opened the book and thought 'oh look, this looks like my old farm'."There's a really quite a good case to be made here for direct inspiration." Andrew Morton, author of Tolkien's Gedling, was initially said he often hears people coming up with "fantastic ideas" connecting Tolkien to the after seeing the evidence, he said: "It's quite compelling, your readers are onto something here."It's reasonable to think he'd have dug [Arnold Lane] out of his memory and incorporated it into his landscape."Although you have to be careful, or you'll end up with Bilbo Baggins living at Mapperley Top."
Kuwait Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Kuwait Times
Rare first edition of ‘The Hobbit' set for auction sale
LONDON: A rare first edition of JRR Tolkien's 'The Hobbit' was expected to sell for thousands of pounds on Wednesday after it was found during a house clearance in southwest England. The book is one of 1,500 original copies of the British author's seminal fantasy novel that were published in 1937. Of those only 'a few hundred are believed to still remain', according to auction house Auctioneum, which discovered the book on an old bookcase at a home in Bristol. 'The surviving books from the initial print run are now considered some of the most sought-after books in modern literature,' Auctioneum said in a statement. Bidding, which ends at 2000 GMT on Wednesday, reached £23,000 ($30,000) by late morning. Auctioneum unearthed the book during a routine house clearance after its owner passed away. 'Nobody knew it was there,' said Auctioneum rare books specialist Caitlin Riley. 'It was just a run-of-the-mill bookcase.' 'It was clearly an early Hobbit at first glance, so I just pulled it out and began to flick through it, never expecting it to be a true first edition,' said Riley. 'I couldn't believe my eyes,' the specialist added, calling it an 'unimaginably rare find'. The copy is bound in light green cloth and features rare black-and-white illustrations by Tolkien, who created his beloved Middle Earth universe while he was a professor at the University of Oxford. The book was passed down in the family library of Hubert Priestley, a botanist connected to the university. 'It is likely that both men knew each other,' according to Auctioneum, which said Priestley and Tolkien shared mutual correspondence with author CS Lewis, who was also at Oxford. 'The Hobbit', which was followed by the epic series 'The Lord of the Rings', has sold more than 100 million copies worldwide. The beloved sagas were turned into a hit movie franchise in the 2000s. A first edition of 'The Hobbit' with a handwritten note in Elvish by the author sold for £137,000 at Sotheby's in June 2015. – AFP
Wales Online
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
First edition of The Hobbit discovered in UK home sells for £43,000
First edition of The Hobbit discovered in UK home sells for £43,000 It is one of only 1,500 copies printed in September 1937, according to auction house Auctioneum, and was sold to a UK-based private collector at an auction held in Bath. A "rare" first edition of JRR Tolkien book The Hobbit discovered during a house clearance in Bristol has sold at auction for £43,000. It is one of only 1,500 copies printed in September 1937, according to auction house Auctioneum, and was sold to a UK-based private collector at an auction held in Bath. Caitlin Riley, book specialist at Auctioneum, said: "It's the quintessential auction story. Everyone dreams of finding a rare item hidden in plain sight, and here we are. "House clearances can be tricky, stressful and troublesome – if ever there is a good advert for our service, it's this! This could have so easily been sent to landfill or disposed of by someone who didn't realise it was there. It really is a lucky survivor! "The result just goes to show the pure love for Tolkien's work. Written nearly 90 years ago, it's amazing how relevant and popular it still is. "People still want the escape; they want to delve into a fantastical world and discover new characters. Some people are clearly willing to pay large sums for the privilege. "Much like the tale within the covers – selling this has been a real adventure. "We've had hundreds of inquiries from all around the world and whilst we were expecting a certain amount of interest, we weren't quite expecting this much! It's a wonderful result, for a very special book." Including buyer's premium, which is an additional charge that the winning bidder must pay on top of the hammer price, the book totalled £52,000. It was discovered in the family library of Hubert Priestley, a famous botanist in the 1930s and brother to Antarctic explorer and geologist Sir Raymond Edward Priestley. The auction house said Priestley and Tolkien both shared mutual correspondence with author CS Lewis, as well as strong connections to the University of Oxford, meaning it is likely both men knew each other. Ms Riley said: "To think that just a few weeks ago this book was sat undiscovered on a bookshelf in a Bristol house, and has gone on to make headlines around the world, is quite incredible. Article continues below "It's the connection to Tolkien and the important provenance that makes this book so special. It's not just any first edition; it belonged to someone who very likely called Tolkien an acquaintance." The Hobbit, a children's fantasy novel published in 1937, follows hobbit Bilbo Baggins as he is joined by wizard Gandalf and the 13 dwarves of Thorin's Company in a bid to win their treasure from dragon Smaug. Peter Jackson directed the film trilogy, which starred Martin Freeman as titular hobbit Bilbo.
