Pilgrimage to Tolkien's grave - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

ninlaith · 07-26-2004, 11:18 AM

I don't know for sure but the first thing that popped into my mind after reading your post was maybe the person that left the lamb was trying to say he was the Shepard that lead the Flock. In which case he really was. He lead us all into a world we had only dreamed about and made the places and characters come to life with words. I'm not sure but that is what I think.

Mithalwen · 07-26-2004, 11:21 AM

Oh that is a nice idea..... especially since there were notes from people saying how much Tolkien's work had meant to them, that Tolkien had inspired their interest in literature and myth.......

Tuor of Gondolin · 07-26-2004, 11:39 AM

If someone has a bit of time they can do more. When I was in Oxford a while ago I picked up a pamphlet at the TIC that gave directions to a general Tolkenish tour, but an interesting bit was it told how to visit the gravesites of inklings JRRT, C.S. Lewis, and Charles Williams. I did it in one day by taking buses, but you could probably also go by bike. They're interestingly different. JRRT's is in a suburban setting, CW in the heart of Oxford (near Magdalen College), the oldest burial area of the three, and C.S. Lewis in a church cemetery setting reminiscent of a small town U.S. protestant church setting. I think Warnie Lewis is also buried there.
Btw, the kilns is fairly close to CSL's church.

Encaitare · 07-26-2004, 11:45 AM

Awesome, I would love to go. I think the Beren/Luthien inscription is so sweet... hooray for Tolkien's romantic side!

We should all be so lucky that adoring fans will someday visit our graves and leave us toy lambs and eagles and letters. I wouldn't mind action figures adorning my tombstone! Oh wait, I'm gonna be cremated... never mind

Mithalwen · 07-26-2004, 12:08 PM

Well I found myself by accident by his house in Headington once .... but I was intrigued by the grave and I didn't have time to do more this time ..... The grave was nicer than I expected from the description in the biography and although you get the dull roar of traffic on the A34 Wolvercote is a charming village and the cemetery far more pleasant than most municipal ones which can be a little bleak ....there are lots of trees and the graves are very well tended. There are subtle markers by the path to point you to Tolkien's grave.

Well I intend to have a Woodland Burial (but I hope not for a very long time

).

07-26-2004, 11:18 AM	#1
ninlaith Wight Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: in my hobbit hole Posts: 204	I don't know for sure but the first thing that popped into my mind after reading your post was maybe the person that left the lamb was trying to say he was the Shepard that lead the Flock. In which case he really was. He lead us all into a world we had only dreamed about and made the places and characters come to life with words. I'm not sure but that is what I think. __________________ "I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve!"-Bilbo Baggins

07-26-2004, 11:21 AM	#2
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,461	Oh that is a nice idea..... especially since there were notes from people saying how much Tolkien's work had meant to them, that Tolkien had inspired their interest in literature and myth....... __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

07-26-2004, 12:08 PM	#5
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,461	Well I found myself by accident by his house in Headington once .... but I was intrigued by the grave and I didn't have time to do more this time ..... The grave was nicer than I expected from the description in the biography and although you get the dull roar of traffic on the A34 Wolvercote is a charming village and the cemetery far more pleasant than most municipal ones which can be a little bleak ....there are lots of trees and the graves are very well tended. There are subtle markers by the path to point you to Tolkien's grave. Well I intend to have a Woodland Burial (but I hope not for a very long time ). __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

07-26-2004, 11:39 AM	#3
Tuor of Gondolin Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Pennsylvania, WtR, passed Sarn Gebir: Above the rapids (1239 miles) BtR, passed Black Rider Stopping Place (31 miles) Posts: 1,548	If someone has a bit of time they can do more. When I was in Oxford a while ago I picked up a pamphlet at the TIC that gave directions to a general Tolkenish tour, but an interesting bit was it told how to visit the gravesites of inklings JRRT, C.S. Lewis, and Charles Williams. I did it in one day by taking buses, but you could probably also go by bike. They're interestingly different. JRRT's is in a suburban setting, CW in the heart of Oxford (near Magdalen College), the oldest burial area of the three, and C.S. Lewis in a church cemetery setting reminiscent of a small town U.S. protestant church setting. I think Warnie Lewis is also buried there. Btw, the kilns is fairly close to CSL's church.

07-26-2004, 11:45 AM	#4
Encaitare Bittersweet Symphony Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: On the jolly starship Enterprise Posts: 1,814	Awesome, I would love to go. I think the Beren/Luthien inscription is so sweet... hooray for Tolkien's romantic side! We should all be so lucky that adoring fans will someday visit our graves and leave us toy lambs and eagles and letters. I wouldn't mind action figures adorning my tombstone! Oh wait, I'm gonna be cremated... never mind