Once upon a time there was no Middle-earth Weekend. Then, about 15 years ago, (hard to believe) a group of interested people got together to discuss Tolkien’s links with Sarehole. This period, though brief, left a vivid impression on the young child which remained throughtout Tolkien’s life.
The Tolkien Society, the River Cole and Chinn Brook Conservation Group and Moseley Bog Conservation Group met together to discuss the possibility of creating a country park to honour J.R.R. Tolkien and his connections with Birmingham, not least his living in Wake Green Road, opposite to Sarehole Mill, an inspiration to much of his work. The idea came to fruition and The Shire Country Park, now exists and covers the area along the River Cole from the Solihull Border, for several miles in towards the centre of Birmingham and includes the atmospheric Moseley Bog where Tolkien and his brother Hilary played as child.
The early discussions also included proposals for a Tolkien Centre and detailed plans were discussed and eagerly drawn up. During this period there were setbacks. Namely the economic downturn plus the Environment Agency disclosing that the area on which we would have wished to build the Centre, was in fact a flood plain. Discussions about other sites continued but none were as inviting and proposals for funding were not forthcoming.
It was during this period, that the idea of a weekend event to celebrate Tolkien's life and work was suggested. The first one in 2000 was small in scale but very successful. It involved several local groups volunteering information and creative activities including mini dramatic excerpts from Shire Productions (who had previously presented ‘The Hobbit’ at Sarehole in 1989) to an eager public. Another one was proposed for the following year, and then another and .......
The volunteer led event grew from the original few hundred visitors to many thousands, from this country and abroad and the local community provided many of the volunteers that helped the event run smoothly. Some of these have been involved since the start as were my own drama group Shire Productions who provided the dramatic excerpts from Tolkien’s plays. More volunteers were needed as activities grew in scope to include music, guided walks around the area, re-enactment groups, medieval craftsmen and the chance to become the next Legolas with the archers. One marquee became five including a Performance Tent, Information Tent, Craft Tent and Activity Tent and The Shire Tent which promoted The Shire Country Park itself.
So the weekend became a major event, internationally recognized in its own right, rather than a fun weekend promoting the Tolkien Centre which had gradually receded from the forefront of our minds. The organisation of such a major event also grew in scope and demands on time.
Chapter Two—A New Age
In the meantime, Sarehole Mill had been fortunate enough to obtain considerable funding for badly needed and extensive renovations to repair the roof, to stop the leaks from the mill pool entering through the mill walls, to create new sluice gates and milling equipment and repair the bakehouse and bakery preparation room. The most expensive item was the dredging of the mill pool itself.
Sarehole Mill is now in full working order and volunteer millers grind flour on Sundays and Wednesdays, something not possible for any length of time previously because of the lack of water. Behind the mill, numerous old laurel trees were removed and a lovely sloping access path to the first floor of the mill was created. This enabled those with mobility difficulties to see the mill machinery in action. Previously, and indeed currently for those so inclined, (so to speak), access was via a steep narrow ladder. Within the mill itself there is written details of Tolkien’s life and work together with an audio visual display in the beautifully decorated upper floor of the mill featuring a full size hobbit hole front door. For children there is a hobbit hunt within the mill, leading them to explore the mill buildings.
Volunteer gardeners created Sam’s flower garden and The Gaffer’s Vegetable Patch.
Tolkien would be very surprised and gratified, I believe at the transformation of the mill. In the 1960’s he donated some funds towards repairs when the City Council took on responsibility and turned it into a museum. This second renovation is more extensive and of a much higher quality. Although not happy with the urbanisation of the Sarehole surroundings, I think Tolkien would be pleased at how green the area is now despite being just a few miles from the City Centre.
Sarehole Mill is of course important and well known in its own right, a mill having stood on the site for over 500 years and it being one of only two working mills left in Birmingham. It has links with Matthew Boulton who leased the mill in 1755. Knowing Tolkien’s dislike for the growth of industry with its (at that time) numerous chimneys belching forth black smoke we can only be grateful for the narrow escape created when Boulton decided to follow up his ideas for a foundry with a move to Soho nearer to the town (as Birmingham then was) centre. Sarehole Mill might have become the centre of the Industrial Revolution instead of the tranquil spot that it is today! Tolkien’s mother would have looked elsewhere to bring up her young family.
Sarehole Mill has been transformed into the working mill Tolkien would have known when he was being warned off by ‘The White Ogre’. It has become virtually a Tolkien Centre albeit one that does not have the bells and whistles that the original plans would have had. But then, I think Tolkien would perhaps prefer this subtle and beautiful acknowledgement of his links with Sarehole.
Things move on. Other ideas have already started surfacing, including an inviting suggestion for a second breakfast picnic at Sarehole. Plans evolve. Tiny acorns become oak trees which die after producing their own acorns. The modest beginnings of the weekend grew into an extremely popular event. A victim of its own success perhaps. But as with Middle-earth itself, years have passed and those of who have volunteered are not like elves; we have physically aged, and perhaps a new age dawns in which to celebrate Tolkien’s life and the stories that emerged from his time at Sarehole.
