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[[Image:Matěj Čadil - Crickhollow.jpg|thumb|''Crickhollow'' by [[Matěj Čadil]]]]
[[File:Matěj Čadil - Crickhollow.jpg|thumb|[[Matěj Čadil]] - ''Crickhollow'']]
'''Crickhollow''' was a small village in [[Buckland]], located a short way to the northeast of [[Brandy Hall]].<ref>{{FR|Part}}</ref> The house that [[Frodo Baggins]] bought in the village was quite isolated: It stood back from the lane in the middle of a wide lawn surrounded by low trees inside an outer hedge, and there were no other dwellings nearby. It occasionally was occupied with those who grew tired of the often crowded [[Brandy Hall]].<ref name="Conspiracy">{{FR|I5}}</ref>
'''Crickhollow''' was a location, perhaps a small settlement in [[Buckland]], located a short way to the northeast of [[Brandy Hall]].<ref>{{FR|Part}}</ref>  
 
Its most notable spot was an isolated house standing back from the lane in the middle of a wide lawn. It was surrounded by low trees inside an outer hedge, and there were no other dwellings nearby. This house was occasionally occupied with [[Brandybuck Family|Brandybuck]] [[Hobbits]] who grew tired of the often crowded [[Brandy Hall]].<ref name="Conspiracy">{{FR|I5}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
In the summer of {{TA|3018}}, [[Frodo Baggins]] bought a house of the [[Brandybuck family]] in Crickhollow. His reason was to find an excuse for leaving [[Hobbiton]] to the east.<ref>{{FR|I3}}</ref>
[[Frodo Baggins]] was instructed by [[Gandalf]] to find a reason why he should leave [[Hobbiton]] (and [[the Shire]]) and meet him in [[Bree]]. In the summer of {{TA|3018}}, [[Frodo Baggins]] bought this house, as an excuse for leaving [[Hobbiton]] to the east.<ref>{{FR|I3}}</ref>
[[File:Ted Nasmith - Bathing at Crickhollow.jpg|thumb|left|[[Ted Nasmith]] - Bathing at Crickhollow]]
[[File:Ted Nasmith - Bathing at Crickhollow.jpg|thumb|left|[[Ted Nasmith]] - Bathing at Crickhollow]]
On [[25 September]], Frodo, [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]], and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] arrived at the lodgings, where [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Fredegar Bolger|Fatty Bolger]] had prepared for their arrival. The next day Frodo and his party departed for the [[Old Forest]] while Fatty stayed at Crickhollow to maintain the pretense that Frodo was still in residence.<ref name="Conspiracy"/> Frodo spent only one night; at [[26 September|dawn]] they picked up the ponies from a nearby stable and rode to the [[High Hay]].
While Frodo, [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]], and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] moved out, [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Fredegar Bolger|Fatty Bolger]] were already in that house, making preparations for their arrival. They were the only Hobbits who knew that Frodo would begin a journey to the east, so they made preparation for their departure as well.


In the early hours of [[30 September]] three [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] came to the house in Crickhollow,<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> but Fatty Bolger had already escaped.  He had run to the nearest house from where the news of an invasion had gone swiftly to [[Brandy Hall]], which resulted in the rousing of the hobbits of [[Buckland]].<ref>{{FR|I11}}</ref>
On [[25 September]], Frodo and his company arrived at the lodgings, and met Merry and Fatty. The next day Frodo and his party departed for the [[Old Forest]]. It was decided that Fatty would stay at Crickhollow to maintain the pretense that Frodo was still in residence to hide his departure.<ref name="Conspiracy"/> Frodo spent only one night; at [[26 September|dawn]] they picked up the ponies from a nearby stable and rode to the [[High Hay]].
 
In the early hours of [[30 September]] three [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] came to the house in Crickhollow,<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> but Fatty Bolger had already escaped.  He had run to the nearest house and from there he spread news of an invasion, which traveled swiftly to [[Brandy Hall]], and resulted in the rousing of the hobbits of [[Buckland]].<ref>{{FR|I11}}</ref>


After the [[War of the Ring]], Merry and Pippin lived together for some time at Crickhollow.<ref>{{RK|VI9}}</ref>
After the [[War of the Ring]], Merry and Pippin lived together for some time at Crickhollow.<ref>{{RK|VI9}}</ref>


==Etymology==
==Etymology==
[[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] noted that the first element is obsolete of obscure meaning. A hollow is a depression in the ground.<ref name="Nomen">{{HM|N}}, p. 758</ref>
 
[[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] noted that the first element is obsolete and of obscure meaning. A ''hollow'' is a small depression in the ground.<ref name="Nomen">{{HM|N}}, p. 768</ref>
 
Based on this, [[David Salo]] has suggested a speculative [[Old English|Old Hobbitish]] form *''Crycholh'' from which Crickhollow derives. The obscure element ''cryc'' could represent, as can be expected in [[Stoorish]], a [[Celtic]] ([[Wikipedia:British language|Old Brythonic]]) word for "hill". The placename would therefore mean "low place by the hill".<ref>{{webcite|author=[[David Salo]]|articleurl=http://groups.yahoo.com/group/elfling/message/121|articlename=Hobbitish Place-names|dated=23 November 1998|website=[[Elfling]]}}</ref>
 
It is not clear in the ''Lord of the Rings'' whether Crickhollow was a village or a region occupied by a solitary house. The [[Encyclopedia of Arda]] mentions Crickhollow as a village<ref>{{webcite|articleurl=http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/c/crickhollow.html|articlename=Crickhollow|website=[[Encyclopedia of Arda]]|author=Mark Fisher}}</ref>. [[Robert Foster]] describes Crickhollow as a "place in Buckland"<ref>[[Robert Foster]], ''[[The Complete Guide to Middle-earth]]'', p. 75, entry "Crickhollow"</ref> whereas [[Karen Fonstad]] believes that Crickhollow is just the name of Frodo's house.<ref>[[Karen Wynn Fonstad]], ''[[The Atlas of Middle-earth]]'', p. 120</ref>
 
== Portrayals in Adaptations ==
== Portrayals in Adaptations ==
'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Crickhollow is visted by the player during ''[[Stirrings in the Darkness]]''.
:Crickhollow is visited by players during the Volume 1 Epic Book, ''[[Stirrings in the Darkness]]''. [[Fredegar Bolger]] is found worrying about the recent attack by the [[Ringwraiths]] on Crickhollow, and the broken door and cloak found in the front. Players must then defend Fredegar from enemy [[Crebain]] that descend to attack.
{{references}}
{{references}}
[[Category:Buckland]]
[[Category:Buckland]]

Revision as of 05:43, 29 December 2018

Matěj Čadil - Crickhollow

Crickhollow was a location, perhaps a small settlement in Buckland, located a short way to the northeast of Brandy Hall.[1]

Its most notable spot was an isolated house standing back from the lane in the middle of a wide lawn. It was surrounded by low trees inside an outer hedge, and there were no other dwellings nearby. This house was occasionally occupied with Brandybuck Hobbits who grew tired of the often crowded Brandy Hall.[2]

History

Frodo Baggins was instructed by Gandalf to find a reason why he should leave Hobbiton (and the Shire) and meet him in Bree. In the summer of T.A. 3018, Frodo Baggins bought this house, as an excuse for leaving Hobbiton to the east.[3]

Ted Nasmith - Bathing at Crickhollow

While Frodo, Sam, and Pippin moved out, Merry and Fatty Bolger were already in that house, making preparations for their arrival. They were the only Hobbits who knew that Frodo would begin a journey to the east, so they made preparation for their departure as well.

On 25 September, Frodo and his company arrived at the lodgings, and met Merry and Fatty. The next day Frodo and his party departed for the Old Forest. It was decided that Fatty would stay at Crickhollow to maintain the pretense that Frodo was still in residence to hide his departure.[2] Frodo spent only one night; at dawn they picked up the ponies from a nearby stable and rode to the High Hay.

In the early hours of 30 September three Black Riders came to the house in Crickhollow,[4] but Fatty Bolger had already escaped. He had run to the nearest house and from there he spread news of an invasion, which traveled swiftly to Brandy Hall, and resulted in the rousing of the hobbits of Buckland.[5]

After the War of the Ring, Merry and Pippin lived together for some time at Crickhollow.[6]

Etymology

Tolkien noted that the first element is obsolete and of obscure meaning. A hollow is a small depression in the ground.[7]

Based on this, David Salo has suggested a speculative Old Hobbitish form *Crycholh from which Crickhollow derives. The obscure element cryc could represent, as can be expected in Stoorish, a Celtic (Old Brythonic) word for "hill". The placename would therefore mean "low place by the hill".[8]

It is not clear in the Lord of the Rings whether Crickhollow was a village or a region occupied by a solitary house. The Encyclopedia of Arda mentions Crickhollow as a village[9]. Robert Foster describes Crickhollow as a "place in Buckland"[10] whereas Karen Fonstad believes that Crickhollow is just the name of Frodo's house.[11]

Portrayals in Adaptations

2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Crickhollow is visited by players during the Volume 1 Epic Book, Stirrings in the Darkness. Fredegar Bolger is found worrying about the recent attack by the Ringwraiths on Crickhollow, and the broken door and cloak found in the front. Players must then defend Fredegar from enemy Crebain that descend to attack.

References