Isn’t it remarkable how a simple plaque can mark the extraordinary life of a literary giant? This is the JRR Tolkien Plaque. It commemorates the time that JRR Tolkien lived here. Specifically, this JRR Tolkien Plaque marks his residence at 20 Northmoor Road from 1930 to 1947.
JRR Tolkien was born in South Africa. His father worked as a bank manager of German origin. Tolkien was educated in Birmingham and at Exeter College in Oxford. After serving in World War One, he returned to Oxford. During the war, he began writing his first stories.
Before becoming a renowned author, Tolkien worked on the Oxford English Dictionary. He then started his academic career as a Reader at the University of Leeds. In 1925, he became the Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford. Later in 1945, he held the Merton Chair of English until his retirement in 1959.
Living at 20 Northmoor Road was a particularly productive time for JRR Tolkien. “The Hobbit” was published in 1937. “The Lord of the Rings” followed in 1954 and 1955. His original drawings for “The Hobbit” are now held in the Bodleian Library.
JRR Tolkien was part of a literary circle called The Inklings. This group included C. S. Lewis and Charles Williams. They often met at the Eagle & Child pub in St Giles.
Before residing here at number 20, JRR Tolkien lived with his family at 22 Northmoor Road from 1926 to 1930. After 1947, he moved to 3 Manor Road. Then in 1952, he resided at 99 Holywell Street. From 1953 to 1968, JRR Tolkien lived at Sandfield Road in Headington. A stone plaque there marks his time at that residence. It features a picture and the words “J. R. R. Tolkien lived here 1953–1968.”
In 1968, the increasing attention from fans led him to move to Poole in Dorset. Following his wife’s death in 1971, JRR Tolkien returned to Oxford. He lived in Merton College and was elected an Honorary Fellow.
The JRR Tolkien Plaque you see before you was unveiled on December 3, 2002. JRR Tolkien’s daughter, Priscilla Tolkien, revealed the JRR Tolkien Plaque to the world.
This JRR Tolkien Plaque serves as a permanent reminder. It honors a man whose imagination created enduring worlds. His stories continue to captivate readers of all ages. As you stand here consider the magic. Think of Middle-earth that sprang from the mind of the man who once called this place home.