Commemorating Tolkien

Today is the 120th anniversary of the birth of JRR Tolkien. Each year JRRT's birthday is marked by enthusiasts in a simple way. If you would like to join in, then at 9pm by your local time, face West, raise a glass (contents up to you!) and make the simple toast to 'The Professor'. Tolkien, ever modest, would probably have been surprised by this and the efforts that are made by local communities to commemorate and mark his legacy. Here in Hall green of course we have the famous Middle-earth Weekend in May and the Museum and volunteers are working steadily to enhance the visitor experience at Sarehole Mill which was so important to Tolkien in his early years when he lived nearby.

Work has been completed on the extension of the path by the side of the millpond and quotation requests have been made to millwrights regarding the repair of the sluice gate. The main issue here is silt and a possible breach would mean major internal flooding. A heritage Lottery bid regarding de-silting of the pool will be made after April when it is expected that the Mill will be part of the intended city-wide Museums Trust.

As presently understood, the transfer would relate to the museum area, mill and pool and not the recreation ground. Attention will need to be paid to the (dormant) Sarehole Trust which technically held the mill and all of the land including the recreation ground. There would also need to be approval by the Council's Trusts and Charities Committee (which has oversight of all such trusts) for the transfer.

The former Rangers area that had been used for storage is now being cleared and alternative use could be made of this. In the medium term the building could be used as a shop and for visitor reception. Such a use would be volunteer dependent and that there were management and staff related issues to be resolved.

Work is also well advanced on the reconfiguration of the third floor regarding the enhanced Tolkien display area. Environmentally sympathetic 'earth paint' had been used for the attractive painting that forms part of the greatly revised display - the picture alongside gives an impression. The Tolkien panels are being completely re-written and discussions with the Tolkien Estate and Harper Collins as regards permissions are in hand. A newly produced short film on the Mill would also be on display here.
Reconfiguration of the middle floor is underway with a focus mainly on the history and people of the Mill (including the Miller and Matthew Boulton as well as Tolkien) with two or three panels on this subject. There would also be maps and a natural history feature.

On the ground floor the film would again be available for those for whom access to the third floor is too difficult. There will be four panels on Tolkien, two of which will give a timeline and two will relate to Tolkien and the wider Birmingham area.