What is the story of the Project Northmoor?
Nestled between a canopy of trees, the house on 20 Northmoor Road looks like any other in the U.K. countryside. However, it is a round blue plaque on the front of the house that sets it apart. Bold writing on the blue circle proudly declares, "J.R.R. Tolkien, author of "The Lord of the Rings" lived here."
And, the 97-year-old house, which has been put up for sale in December 2020, has spurred a controversial crowdfunding campaign, supported by popular British actors, to convert it into a centre dedicated to the author and his works.
Tolkien lived at the house between 1930 and 1947 with his wife Edith.
According to the press release, Project Northmoor is now working to raise $6 million by March 15, 2021. Many public figures including Ian McKellen and Martin Freeman, who played Gandalf and Bilbo Baggins in the film adaptations of Tolkien's fantasy novels, have come out in its support.
The website, projectnorthmoor.org, says, "We hope one day to invite Tolkien fans the world over to take part in our programme of events," says the website.
The controversy
Project Northmoor however is not backed by the Tolkien estate. Members of the public have also raised over some of the conditions put forth by the organisers for donating the money. As the debate about the future of the iconic writer’s house continues, fans are keeping their fingers crossed.
Who was J.R.R. Tolkien?
Tolkien was born on January 3, 1892 in Bloemfontein, South Africa. He went to King Edward's School in England, where he did remarkably well. From an early age, he showed exceptional linguistic skills. He mastered the staple languages of that time such as Latin and Greek along with ancient and classical languages such as Gothic and Finnish. But he was more than just a language enthusiast, he often made up languages in his leisure time. A few of his friends from King Edward's School also formed a secret society T.C.B.S (Tea Club and Barrovian Society) and regularly came together to drink tea, write poetry and review each other's work.
Popular works
Tolkien worked as an Assistant Lexicographer on the Oxford English Dictionary and later as a professor at the University of Leeds and Oxford. He often regaled his children with mythological stories and legends. One such story became the basis for the famous trilogy "The Hobbit". The series soon developed into something much more than a children's story. It turned into a highly complex 16-year history of what became "The Lord of the Rings". It went on to become a cult classic.
Final years
In 1959, Edith and Tolkien retired and moved to Bournemouth. After retirement, Tolkien received literary fame. Frustrated by the constant public attention, he was forced to remove his phone number from the public directory. In 1961, he was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature, but he did not win. He spent his final years in a seaside resort along with his wife. He lost Edith in the year 1971 after which he moved back to Oxford and after two short years there.
Inside Northmoor
- Tolkien's house on 20 Northmoor Road, Oxford in the U.K. was listed on the market on December, 2020 for nearly $6 million. Because of its connection to Tolkien, it is listed as a Grade 2 building, meaning it is of special interest.
- Built in 1924, it was initially the residence of a popular Oxford bookseller Basil Blackwell, before it was bought by Tolkien, when was teaching at Oxford University.
- The two-story structure is spread over 3,500 sq. ft with as many as six bedrooms, and four bathrooms. What makes it special is a drawing room, where Tolkien loved to write and meet with his students. A garden at the back of the house still some of the trees planted by Tolkien.
Picture Credit : Google
