Sarehole Mill

The original Sarehole Mill was built in 1542, while the current structure has been in place since 1768. It is famous as the place that J.R.R. Tolkien lived as a child – he called it “a kind of lost paradise” – and a place which moved him to write about a pastoral rural idyll where the hobbits lived, safe and secure from a fearful and changing world, but also a place where strength of character was built. Today it continues to offer a serene environment in which to appreciate the flora and fauna all around you.

At the mill itself, examine the old machinery and look at how the waterwheel, gears and grinding stones combine to process the wheat and to produce flour. Bakers then transform the four into wonderfully aromatic bread, and you can watch a demonstration of this craft too. The bread is baked in an enormous oven, with a capacity of 60 loaves.

Give yourself some time to enjoy the Signposts to Middle Earth exhibition, which is spread across three stories of the mill. Tolkien’s life is looked at in a brief film and display on the ground floor, the second hosts drawings by the author and a storyboard tracing the history of the mill, while the third storey recreates the entrance to a hobbit’s home. If you can at all, time your visit to coincide with the annual Middle Earth weekend in May, when Lord of the Rings enthusiasts gather for a festival.

Print a Tolkien Trail map from the website before your visit, and walk around the area in the footsteps of the great fantasy author. Look at his former homes, and enjoy the unspoiled nature of Moseley Bog.

Sarehole Mill is in Hall Green, a 15-minute drive or train journey from central Birmingham. Parking is free of charge. Buses stop near the entrance, while Hall Green train station is a short walk away. The mill is open from Tuesday to Sunday during the summer months. Check the website for times and dates.