Voices from the Shire

If, like me, you think that Dorset inspired Tolkien's vision of the Shire in his Middle-earth, then you may be interested to listen to "Fowles in Dorset" broadcast by the BBC.

If you follow this link, you can listen again, at least for the current week. The programme contains recordings from 1978 of the oldest residents of Lyme Regis who would have spoken with accents familiar to Tolkien when he was writing his famous works of fantasy.

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Inspiration from Oxford

Campaigners in Oxford have saved a location with many literary connections from being developed as a block of flats.

You can read more about this in an article on the Daily Telegraph website.

I think Tolkien would have approved of preserving a boatyard on the site with tradition skills as a reminder of the history of the place and a gentler way of life.

This success story should be an inspiration to those who would like to see The Three Cups Hotel preserved in its original form as an inn for travellers and to provide hospitality for local people.

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