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December 2001 marked the launch of the long awaited first film in the Lord of the Rings trilogy – The Fellowship of The Ring.

As a number of Streets in South Woodham Ferrers are named from the people and places of Tolkiens Middle earth, I thought it might be interesting to trace the origins of those names.

The Middle Earth estate is interestingly based around two feeder roads, Gandalfs Ride and Celeborn Street, although it is said that Celeborn Street was originally to have been called Gollums Reach. This would have made sense, as the two main influences of The Lord of The Rings are Gandalfs ride to muster the armies for the War of the Ring, and Gollums reach for the One Ring. Anyone who has read the trilogy will know the final result of Gollums reach, and it is little wonder that the street was renamed.

So, to the streets themselves:

Arwen Grove – Arwen was an Elven princess, the half daughter of Elrond, who married Aragorn following the War of the Ring.

Bree Hill - Bree was the main village of Breeland, at the crossroads of The Great East Road and the North Road, most famous for its inn, The Prancing Pony, a place where travellers met to rest and catch up with news and gossip.

Buckland Gate – Buckland was one of the regions of the Hobbits home in The Shire.

Bucklebury Heath – The hobbits were nearly ambushed by the ringwraiths at Bucklebury ferry on their departure from the Shire.

Butterbur Chase – Barleyman Butterbur was the landlord of The Prancing Pony – an inn in the village of Bree.

Bywater Road – Bywater was a village in The Shire, where the Hobbits came from. It was renowned for its village pub – The Green Dragon – and also the site of the final battle of the War of the Ring, where the evil wizard Saruman was finally defeated.

Celeborn Street – Celeborn (pronounced Keleborn) was the Elven King of Lothlorien, married to the fair Lady Galadriel.

Elronds Rest – Elrond was a half-elven prince, married to Celebrian, the daughter of Celeborn and Galadriel. Elronds home at Rivendell was known as The last homely house east of the sea and was the venue for the council which led to the formation of the Fellowship of the Ring.

Galadriel Spring – The Lady Galadriel was the Elven queen of Lothlorien. Tall, blonde and beautiful, she was the wearer of one of the three Elven rings of power.

Gandalfs Ride - Gandalf was one of the last and greatest of the wizards of Middle Earth, also known as Mithrandir, elvish for grey pilgrim. He was a friend to the hobbits, a master of fireworks and instrumental in gathering the armies for the War of the Ring.

Gimli Watch -Gimli was a dwarf and a member of the Fellowship of the Ring  he was the son of Gloin who accompanied Bilbo Baggins on the adventures described in ”The Hobbit”

Gladden Fields – were the marshlands of the Gladden river, many years before the events of The Lord of The Rings, a great battle took place causing the One Ring to become lost, until eventually found by Smeagol, who degenerated into Gollum.

Goldberry Mead – Goldberry was the daughter of the River-woman of the Withywindle, she was married to Tom Bombadil, who rescued the Hobbits when they encountered Old Man Willow. Neither Goldberry nor Tom Bombadil featured in the Peter Jackson films.

Great Smials – A village in the shire, home of the Hobbits.

Hobbiton Hill – Hobbiton was the most famous village in The Shire, the home of the Hobbits. Bag End – the home of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins was situated on Hobbiton Hill.

Lorien Gardens – Lorien, in ancient times before the events described in The Lord of The Rings, was a vast, beautiful garden, which in turn gave its name to Lothlorien, where the Elves lived, under their rulers Celeborn and Galadriel.

Meriadoc Drive – Meriadoc Brandybuck, also known as Merry was one of the hobbits who accompanied Frodo Baggins on their quest as a member of The Fellowhip of the Ring. After the War of the Ring he became Master of Buckland.

Rivendell Vale – Rivendell was a refuge built in the mountains by the elves. It was the site of the House of Elrond, where Bilbo Baggins resided for many years after leaving The Shire.

Rohan Court – the kingdom of Rohan (meaning Horse Land) was homeland of the Rohirrim, skilled horsemen who played a key role in the battles of the war of the Ring.

Shirebourn Vale – The Shire was the peaceful, historic homeland of The Hobbits.

The Withywindle – was a small river which flowed through the Old Forest, to the east of the Shire, home of the Hobbits.

Thorins Gate – Thorin is a name shared by several kings of the dwarves. Thorin Oakenshield was killed in The Hobbit which preceded the events of The Lord of The Rings.

Took Drive - Peregrine Took, also known as Pippin, was a hobbit, and a companion of Frodo Baggins in the Fellowship of the Ring. Following the War of the Ring he became ruler of the Shire.

Treebeard Copse – Treebeard was an Ent, or Tree Shepherd, who lived in the old forest of Fangorn. He and his fellow ents destroyed Sarumans fortress ar Isengard.

Westmarch – Like Buckland, Westmarch was part of The Shire, the historic home of The Hobbits.

White Tree Court – The White Tree was ancient, even in the times described in the Lord of the Rings, the line of saplings could be traced back to pre-history and was a symbol of the continuing line of the men of Gondor.

About the author:
Bob Massey first read Lord of the Rings in 1973 and claims to re-read it every couple of years. He has lived in South Woodham Ferrers since 1986 and is a member of South Woodham Ferrers Town Council.

This website is named from the tree which grows in Lothlorien.