Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
#1
After many decades of meticulous research (cut and pasted from a couple of websites) the true story of Farthingloe and the valley can be revealed.
Shortly after being appointed Reader in English Language at Leeds University in 1920, Professor J R R Tolkien, in association with E V Gordon, he began work on a celebrated translation of the legend of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. During the summer vacation in 1921, Tolkien holidayed in Dover, staying with family friends at Little Farthingloe Farm a couple of miles out of the town on the Folkestone Road. One day Tolkien and his wife, Edith, were taking a walk up one of the hills to enjoy the view towards the famous Dover Castle when he slipped on some wet grass and dislodged a section of soil.
Much to his surprise, he noticed a circular wooden section buried just under the ground. Thinking, at first, that it might be a very large Saxon shield, Professor Tolkien carefully worked his way around its edges in the hopes of dislodging it. It was then that he noticed the rusted the remains of two finely worked hinges on one side and an ornate doorknob on the other.
Using a service knife he had carried with him since his service in the trenches of the Somme during the great War where he had served as a Second Lieutenant in the Lancashire Fusiliers, he gently worked around the edges of what he then realised was a door and pried it open. Behind it, he discovered a round tunnel with a flag stoned level floor. The space was large enough to crawl into and, with some trepidation, Tolkien stooped down and entered. Edith could only wonder how nervous he was at that moment, remembering the description of his Somme experiences which he had described in one of his letters as trying to write "... in huts full of blasphemy and smut, or by candle light in bell-tents, even some down in dugouts under shell fire".
Once inside Tolkien discovered that it had once been a network of rooms leading off the main entrance but that most had then collapsed. He was carefully backing out when he saw the corner of a beautifully carved wood chest poking out from a wall of soil and chalk. It only took him a few minutes to remove the chest but what he was to discover inside would consume him for the rest of his life.
The chest turned out, when husband and wife later examined it in the comfort of their bedroom, to contain a sizeable collection of papers, faded with age but still legible.
It would take Tolkien another three years to translate the language, using all his free time and the resources of the Leeds University, and then, for fear of damaging his academic reputation, he could only make it public by incorporating it into his fiction.
From references in the many letters and notes, which comprised the documents he had discovered, Tolkien uncovered the truth behind legends going back to 1395 AD and previously known only to one Matilda de Ffarnynglo. From long study of the treasured documents he found that the almost mythical creatures that Matilda had insisted on calling "little ones" had preferred to call themselves Hobbits and that they had lived under the hills for longer than those who called themselves mankind had been cutting down their forests and ploughing up their land. Through many references in the documents to the doings of the writers neighbours Tolkien learned of past wars and great quests fought or undertaken by his fellow Hobbits.
Using what he learnt, Tolkien told their story in four books and many short stories and, from correspondence with his family friends in Dover, he learnt that the Hobbits still lived in their round houses keeping out of sight of the humans they did not trust. Occasionally, on clear nights with a bright moon, some people still catch glimpses of these elusive but noble creatures, it would be nice to hear from those who have seen them recently.
The original documents still sit in the vaults of Leeds University awaiting proper indexing and further study.
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Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
#2
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
#3
It has the ring of truth about it.
This being Bloomsday, when all of Ireland celebrates a famous tale of Dublin, (transposed by the author from it's original home of Dover) it is good to see that the SE can still surprise the unwary.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/jun/16/bloomsday-fans-james-joyce-scholarsIgnorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#4
Very interesting Chris and completely plausible.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
#5
An amazing story !
This is from British History on Line:
FARTHINGLOE, alias VENSON DANE, is another manor in this parish, which was antiently part of the possessions of the canons of St. Martin, under the general title of whose possessions it is thus entered in the survey of Domesday:
In Beusberg hundred. In Ferlingelai, William the son of Ganfrid holds one suling, and there he has in demesne one carucate, and four villeins, with one carucate. It is worth four pounds. In the time of king Edward the Confessor, six pounds. Sired held it as a prebend.
And immediately following, under the title of the same possessions:
In Hicham, Balduin holds one suling, and there he has four villeins, and five borderers, with two carucates. It is worth four pounds. In the time of king Edward the Confessor, one hundred shillings. Eduuin holds it.
As the canons of St. Martin's priory had other possessions in this parish, besides the manor of Farthingloe, the latter entry no doubt contains the description of them, and includes their estate here, called Venson Dane, alias Wellclose, mentioned below, which together with the manor of Farthingloe, remained parcel of the possessions of the above priory, till the final suppression of it in the 27th year of king Henry VIII. when they both came into the king's hands, who granted them in his 29th year to the archbishop in exchange, as has been already more particularly mentioned before; since which this manor of Farthingloe, with the estate of Venson Dane, alias Wellclose, has remained parcel of the possessions of the see of Canterbury, his grace the archbishop being at this time entitled to the inheritance of them. The interest of the present lease is vested in the widow of Mr. Nath. Walker, deceased, and Mr. John Marsh (the present occupier); the former possessing the lands, and the latter the great tithes, for their respective shares.
This estate is exempted from the payment of the great or corn tithes. There is not any court held for this manor.
The manor of Farthingloe was held of the prior and canons in king Henry III.'s time, by a family, who from their residence at it, took their surname from it. One of them, Matilda de Farthingloe, is mentioned by Prynne, anno 44 Henry III.
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
#6
Well done Kath. Matilda, with the spelling I give, is named on a deed of 1385 as holding the manor on behalf of the 'Priory' of St Martins. Obviously she kept her dealings with her 'little ones' a secret even from the priors.
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
#7
At Little Farthingloe, 2006
and some mixed information:
Mr MARSH of Farthingloe - sheep blown over the cliff in snow storm (Dover Telegraph 31 Dec 1836 p.8 col.2)
Mrs WORTHINGTON of Farthingloe sent for a carriage to convey a woman who had just given birth nearby on her walk from Dover to Lydd (Dover Telegraph 11 May 1850 p.8 col.1)
Mr MARSH, Fishseller - Running Race, Farthingloe; Mr DOWLE, Landlord (Fector's Arms?), Running Race, Farthingloe (Dover Telegraph 18 May 1850 p.8 col.1)
H. ELVE Esq., Host of Cricket Match, Farthingloe: paper gives names of Cricketers: PHIPPS, SMALL, KELSEY, GOTTO, CLARK, LEE, ELVE, O'DWYER, WORTHINGTON, ALLANE, BOWAN
(Dover Telegraph 10 Aug 1850 p.1 col.4)
Richard COLEMAN, Farmer, Little Farthingloe - game notice (Dover Telegraph 31 Aug 1850 p.1 col.2)
Henry ELVE, Farmer, Great Farthingloe - game notice (Dover Telegraph 31 Aug 1850 p.1 col.2)
Mr Henry ELVE, Farmer, Farthingloe - Ploughing Match (Dover Telegraph 2 Nov 1850 p.8 col.2)
Mr John CONSTABLE, Ploughman, Farthingloe - Ploughing Match (Dover Telegraph 2 Nov 1850 p.8 col.2)
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
#8
Recently found amongst the letters of J R R Tolkien, and translated by his son Christopher, is this fragment from a letter saved from an old carved chest.
.........(name too faded to read) was taking a walk in daylight during the month the big people call May in the year they count as the 1,850th. She was accompanied by her daughter who is not yet well versed in the ways of staying unseen. Whilste picking some wild flowers the girl forgot her lessons and greeted a big woman who was large with child. The woman let out a shriek of uncommon loudness then...... (section rendered unreadable by water damage)........... and her mother assisted with the birth of a healthy child. The woman's companion thanked them profusely and promised not to reveal their presence..........(end of text missing).
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
#9
Well I never !!
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
#10
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
Guest 1694- Registered: 24 Feb 2016
- Posts: 1,087
#11
Incredible
This thread really deserves to get locked at the top for a day.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
#12
Almost too good to be true
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
#13
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
Guest 1694- Registered: 24 Feb 2016
- Posts: 1,087
#14
Posting just because these revelations need to be at the top for a bit.
Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
#15
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
#16
I'm sure this thread will be locked to the top if it has any credibility towards it.
Guest 750- Registered: 12 Apr 2012
- Posts: 72
#17
Goodness Chris, do I have to start an action group to Save Our Hobbits now?
#18
No doubt someone will Lara
Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
#19
A curious letter recently found among J R R Tolkiens papers.
Dear John
I thought you might like to know of an unusual happening three nights ago here in Dover. One of the land army girls reported seeing a line of flickering lights moving over the hills from Farthingloe Farm towards Folkestone.
Twenty soldiers were pulled off duty along the seafront to search the area but they could not find anything. They had searched for hours in the early morning light and through to mid morning.
What was unusual about it you will be asking? I was talking to one of the soldiers in the Sir John Falstaff last night and he told me that he had found a short line of children's footprints in a muddy patch. When he told his C.O. about it he was told not to report it and that the papers were to be told not to report it.
I am sure that I am not supposed to be telling you about it but I am sure that I can rely on your discretion. Please pass my regards on to Edith and I trust that Christopher is doing well.
Yours
This letter was dated August 1943 but appears not to have been posted. It was found amongst a small collection of Tolkien's unpublished letters and it is suspected that the writer, name unknown but from other evidence believed to have lived in Cherry Tree Avenue, may have passed it on to Tolkien some years later, having thought better about posting it during the war.
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
#20
#17, no need Lara, the hobbits are alive and well and running DDC planning dept.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
