J. R. R. Tolkien Memorabilia

~ Original Tolkien Fireplace ~



John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (18921973).

This original tiled fireplace surround from the former Master Bedroom of J. R. R. Tolkien's home at: 76 Sandfield Road, Headington, Oxford, UK is for sale.

Books published whilst J. R. R. Tolkien lived here include:

'The Fellowship of the Ring' (1954), 'The Two Towers' (1954), and 'The Return of the King' (1955).

Wow! This beautiful, original, fireplace surround is a one off that can never be repeated.

It can only be copied!

What would you give to have this original in your lounge, where it would rightly fascinate your friends?



Sincere thanks to www.picturesofengland.com/hotels/ for hosting this webpage.

This tiled fireplace surround was removed from the Master Bedroom of J. R. R. Tolkien's former home in Headington, Oxford, UK where he lived from 1953 to 1968, during recent refurbishment. A plaque over the arch of the garage to the left of the house, confirms that he spent 15 years there.

J. R. R. Tolkien wrote part of 'The Lord of the Rings' in this property, which he actually started writing in 1933. In fact he used the garage (a single storey building at the time), as his library. My book titled 'A Guide to the C S Lewis Tour in Oxford' shows two photographs, one of J.R.R.Tolkiens former home, the other shows the garage with the plaque above. See the section photographs, descriptions and tick boxes at the rear of my book; photographs numbered 21 and 22 confirm.

J. R. R. Tolkien was born in Orange Free State, South Africa. Still a child, he and his widowed mother travelled to Birmingham. During 1910 he enrolled at Exeter College, Oxford and after the war years was employed by the 'Oxford English Dictionary', commanding the position of Assistant Editor (1918-20); Reader (later Professor) of English Language at Leeds University (1920-26); Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford University (1925-45); Merton Professor of English Language and Literature at Oxford University (1945-59). From 1937-45 J.R.R.Tolkien lived at 20 Northmoor Road, Oxford and then had various other accommodation's locally before 1953, when he moved into 76 Sandfield Road, Headington, Oxford.

J. R. R.Tolkien had other books in the 'Lord of the Rings' series published whilst he was living at Sandfield Road. Those being: 'The Fellowship of the Ring' (1954), 'The Two Towers' (1954), and 'The Return of the King' (1955). By 1968 the popularity of 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings' was such that he had to move away from Headington to escape his many fans! He went to live in Bournemouth where he died in 1973.

J. R. R. Tolkien is buried with his wife Edith, at Wolvercote Cemetery about three miles north of Oxford City.

Christopher Tolkien (1924-) was Lecturer and tutor in English Language at Oxford (to 1975); son of J.R.R.Tolkien and is editor of his father's posthumous works.

This tiled fireplace surround is as it was removed from the property. I can see a small chip on a tile to the front left measuring about 3/8 inch (10mm), emulsion/paint on the edges of the surround where the wall was previously painted up to it, sticky tape residue on the top shelf, and where at sometime the fireplace aperture was covered (probably to stop the draught), the marks where the 7 inch tall skirting boards fitted up to either side of the surround. In other words no attempt has been made to clean it. However, I am satisfied that soapy water will remove it. One of the fixing brackets on the back is missing, but I think that can be easily rectified. It is 100% genuine and really did come from the Master Bedroom of J.R.R.Tolkiens former home. The fireplace surround is bought as seen, and the buyer will receive written confirmation of its authenticity.

Buyer to pay for all additional costs. For example insurance, shipping, duty, packaging, transport and handling costs involved.

Fireplace surround specifications:

Overall height: 46:1/4 inches (1175mm)

Overall width of top shelf: 36:1/2 inches. (928mm)

Overall width of front under top shelf: 32 inches (813mm)

Depth of top shelf: 4:1/8 inches. (105mm)

Depth of surround: 2:3/8 inches (61mm)

Depth of surround at aperture: 1:3/8 inches (36mm)

Aperture: 16 inches wide x 24 inches deep (407 x 610mm)

Weight: Approx 160 pounds (73 kilo's)

Colour: Grey/Blue/Burgundy fleck.

For further information please contact the owners:

R.K. & A. M. E. Brind

Ronald K. Brind - Author: 'A Guide to the C S Lewis Tour in Oxford'. ISBN 1857566262 - Janus Publishing Ltd.

Emails to: Ron@pestcontrol-supermarket.com

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