Though I have been to England a couple of times I have never been to this door because I didn't know it existed. Often when I go I visit Glastonbury and the Tower of London because these are two of the amazing places I like to visit along with Avesbury Henge and Stone Circles which at least the last time I went there you could still walk among the Stone circles up close and personal. (even though you might be sharing these fields with Sheep which don't seem to mind people wandering around them observing the henge and stone circles.
Begin quote from:
https://www.stowcivicsociety.co.uk/tolkien-door
St. Edward’s Church, Stow-on-the-Wold, in
Gloucestershire, was built on the site of a former Saxon church and the
present-day edifice fuses various architectural styles. Whilst all of its
authentic features are of interest in their own right, there is one feature
that has become the most photographed door in the Cotswolds. The church’s north
door, flanked by two ancient yew trees is rumoured to have sparked J. R. R.
Tolkien’s inspiration for the “Doors of Durin,” the west gate of Moria that
appears in a scene in the The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
The north porch of the church was built about 300
years ago and young yew saplings were planted to enhance its entrance. Today these
trees are now part of the architraves for the door.
J R R Tolkien was a Professor of Old English at
Merton College in Oxford for 14 years and he was known to visit the Cotswolds and Stow
in particular. Rumour has it that he was so taken with the door of the church
that he used it in his book. Nevertheless, this is still just a rumour, and
nobody has so far authenticated it but see for yourself from the photos below.
October/November 2023 - Annual Autumn Lunch – date and venue to be confirmed
The ancient meadows and rivers of this very local nature reserve are home to a diverse range of wildlife. Its wildflower-rich meadows are designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and the banks of the Rivers Dikler and Eye support a variety of species including otter and water vole. Old farm buildings are used by migratory birds and the reserve is also the site of the Neolithic and Iron Age Salmonsbury Camp. Clare Henderson will explain more about Greystones Farm and also the current wider work and relevance of The Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust.
Following his talk on Gloucestershire Place Names we’re delighted to welcome back Dr. Simon Draper, landscape archaeologist and Assistant Editor for the Oxfordshire Victoria County History. This time he will explain the important roles that fishing and the waterborne trade on the River Severn played in medieval and post-medieval life. We will also discover parishioners’ ingenuity in dealing with flooding – something perhaps to be learned from today?
Friday, 19th April 2024 - Annual Spring Quiz – St. Edward’s Hall
What on earth do these delicacies have to do with Oxford? In the 19th century the popularity of them went hand-in-hand with the city’s growing importance as a tourist destination and many citizens were involved in brewing, baking and the grocery trade. Liz Woolley, Oxford historian and author, will explain how the families which controlled these businesses had a powerful influence over Oxford’s economic, social and political life.
Late May/June 2024 – Private visit to Hyde Mill, Stow-on-the-Wold – in the company of The Hon. Hugh Tollemache
July/August 2024 – Visit to the Stroud Valley – water mills and the evolution of Cotswolds woollen cloth manufacture
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