Weve just had a trip to Hobbiton! It has long puzzled me why anyone from the midlands would spend money and time going all the way to New Zealand to see, in effect, a film-set of Middle Earth when the real thing is on our doorstep. Sarehole Mill in Hall Green, not far from Solihull, is where The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings author, J.R.R Tolkien spent much of his childhood. The surrounding landscape inspired those famous descriptions of Middle Earth - and it is recognisable: from the twisted tree roots of Fangorn Forest, to the gentle bubbling waters of the Bandywine river that borders The Shire. Sarehole Mill is still a working flour mill, but one with a family-friendly Tolkien exhibition and a cosy, pleasingly Hobbity, tea room. But it is unspoilt still in its general feel - the emphasis is on showing visitors how a mill functioned, from the mill race to the teetering wooden mill building with layers and layers of turning mills stones and water wheels. The staff at Sarehole Mill have an obvious passion for their work as millers and buildings conservators. They gave me a bag of freshly stone-ground flour which Ive just made into real Hobbit-bread!! (have a look at my photo of it proving). In a few weeks time all visitors will be able to take home bags of what I cant help but think of as Hobbit-flour (they request a small donation to the up-keep of the mill). Sarehole Mill is managed by Birmingham Museums - find out more at the link below. A really lovely day out and highly recommended. Save the huge amount it would cost you to get to New Zealand and give a donation to the real thing instead. bmag.org.uk/sarehole-mill
Posted on: Sun, 04 May 2014 15:10:03 +0000
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