Tolkien's House To Be Flattened - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Lalwendë · 09-01-2007, 02:40 PM

Some sad news from someone on my F-list on my blog:

http://www.thisisdorset.net/display...._flattened.php

Alas, it's a fait accompli now as full planning permission has been given. If you want to go and see the house at Branksome Chine, I'd go within the next couple of weeks, pronto.

littlemanpoet · 09-02-2007, 08:30 AM

Phew! ::Elempi wipes brow:: You had me worried. At first I thought you were talking about the house of Northmoor road in Oxford with the plaque right there on the front of the house. At least that one will stay up for now. In fact, back in September of 2005 it looked like some bit of upkeep work was being done on it. Still, I suppose it's a shame for the retirement home to be demolished. However, Tollers himself never really liked it much there, according to the late Mr. Carpenter.

Lalwendë · 09-02-2007, 09:06 AM

I vote for sending Mithalwen over to stage a house-saving demo

The one at Northmoor Road surprised me when I was there last year - it sold for a BIG amount (it would, in North Oxford) but the owner was just an ordinary pensioner, pottering around in the garage with his second hand VW car. The trellis around the top of the garden fence is shabby looking, but that is in fact the original trellis put up by Tolkien himself!

Mithalwen · 09-03-2007, 06:49 AM

I am really not surprised ... sadly around here land prices are too high for it to be just too attractive for developers to buy single dwellings on good sized plots and whack a load of flats on them. However my giref is controllable in this case as it was not an attractive building - though I am sure that the convenience of a modern single story dewlling was a boon for the arthritic Edith.

While it backs onto Branksome chine which is a mini Rivendell and is very close to the sea, I would not want to live there even if I had the money. While Tolkien was clearly quite spritely up to the end (going on the Carpenter description of how he walked into the town centre from the Miramar a few days before he fell ill - that is a fair and steepish walk, though Carpenter may have meant the Lansdowne shopping area which is a lot nearer) there are no amenities near Lakeside Road save the Lido and again there are a lot of gradients.

Really it was an odd choice for a non driver and Given that there are many locations in the vicinity just as picturesque and more convenient - and a great deal cheaper - I can only assume that the exclusive nature of Canford Cliffs where - lots of money and "new" money bought a certain amount of welcome anonymity which you wouldn't get in a village or district with any sense of community.

However the fact that it is now in the hands of a developer means I feel I can go an take photos now with a clear conscience.

Mithalwen · 08-18-2008, 10:51 AM

It so happened that I had to go to see my agency htis afternoon and once through I decided to go to Westbourne and made a detour to Lakeside road the house is flattened but the replacements have not been started. And so I have a tiny fragment of Tolkien's garden wall in my glove box...

Groin Redbeard · 09-06-2008, 06:44 PM

My goodness! I was almost hysterical when I read that. It's sad that we don't have enough people in the world who appreciate history, or great men like Tolkien.

09-01-2007, 02:40 PM	#1
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	Tolkien's House To Be Flattened Some sad news from someone on my F-list on my blog: http://www.thisisdorset.net/display...._flattened.php Alas, it's a fait accompli now as full planning permission has been given. If you want to go and see the house at Branksome Chine, I'd go within the next couple of weeks, pronto. __________________ Gordon's alive!

09-02-2007, 09:06 AM	#3
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	I vote for sending Mithalwen over to stage a house-saving demo The one at Northmoor Road surprised me when I was there last year - it sold for a BIG amount (it would, in North Oxford) but the owner was just an ordinary pensioner, pottering around in the garage with his second hand VW car. The trellis around the top of the garden fence is shabby looking, but that is in fact the original trellis put up by Tolkien himself! __________________ Gordon's alive!

09-03-2007, 06:49 AM	#4
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,460	I am really not surprised ... sadly around here land prices are too high for it to be just too attractive for developers to buy single dwellings on good sized plots and whack a load of flats on them. However my giref is controllable in this case as it was not an attractive building - though I am sure that the convenience of a modern single story dewlling was a boon for the arthritic Edith. While it backs onto Branksome chine which is a mini Rivendell and is very close to the sea, I would not want to live there even if I had the money. While Tolkien was clearly quite spritely up to the end (going on the Carpenter description of how he walked into the town centre from the Miramar a few days before he fell ill - that is a fair and steepish walk, though Carpenter may have meant the Lansdowne shopping area which is a lot nearer) there are no amenities near Lakeside Road save the Lido and again there are a lot of gradients. Really it was an odd choice for a non driver and Given that there are many locations in the vicinity just as picturesque and more convenient - and a great deal cheaper - I can only assume that the exclusive nature of Canford Cliffs where - lots of money and "new" money bought a certain amount of welcome anonymity which you wouldn't get in a village or district with any sense of community. However the fact that it is now in the hands of a developer means I feel I can go an take photos now with a clear conscience. __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

08-18-2008, 10:51 AM	#5
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,460	Kleptomania It so happened that I had to go to see my agency htis afternoon and once through I decided to go to Westbourne and made a detour to Lakeside road the house is flattened but the replacements have not been started. And so I have a tiny fragment of Tolkien's garden wall in my glove box... __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

09-06-2008, 06:44 PM	#6
Groin Redbeard Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Facing the world's troubles with Christ's hope! Posts: 1,635	My goodness! I was almost hysterical when I read that. It's sad that we don't have enough people in the world who appreciate history, or great men like Tolkien. __________________ I heard the bells on Christmas Day. Their old, familiar carols play. And wild and sweet the words repeatof peace on earth, good-will to men! ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

09-02-2007, 08:30 AM	#2
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	Phew! ::Elempi wipes brow:: You had me worried. At first I thought you were talking about the house of Northmoor road in Oxford with the plaque right there on the front of the house. At least that one will stay up for now. In fact, back in September of 2005 it looked like some bit of upkeep work was being done on it. Still, I suppose it's a shame for the retirement home to be demolished. However, Tollers himself never really liked it much there, according to the late Mr. Carpenter.