![Chris Hoare [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://middleearthnews.com/files/2013/03/Sarehole_Mill_Hall_Green_Birmingham_-_geograph.org_.uk_-_88394.jpg)
Chris Hoare [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
The mill was a childhood haunt of JRR Tolkien and his brother and they would often play together there. Later on the mill, along with other local settings like Moseley Bog, became the inspiration for Hobbiton and The Shire in Tolkien’s books The Hobbit and The Lord of The Rings. Tolkien contributed to a previous restoration of Sarehole Mill in the 1960’s.
In recent months Sarehole Mill has been clad in scaffolding whilst the mill machinery has been repaired and the mill roof and Victorian bakehouse restored. The mill pond has been dredged too.
Now, with everything in working order, Sarehole Mill is once again ready to open its doors to the public. For the Grand Opening, wheat will be ground into flour, bread will be baked in the Victorian oven, there will be music (barrel organ on Saturday and Diabolus in Musica on Sunday), guided tours, a Hobbit trail.and outdoor games which includes an interactive waterwheel.
You can find out more about the Grand Opening here.
A few weeks later, Sarehole Mill will be hosting The Origins of Middle-earth. This is a guided walk of the places in Tolkien’s childhood that later inspired The Shire, including Sarehole Mill and Moseley Bog. The Origins of Middle-earth is on 21st April. You can find out more about this and other events at Sarehole Mill at Birmingham Museums and Art Galleries
