Eastfarthing

From Tolkien Gateway
Eastfarthing
Region
Christopher Tolkien - A Part of the Shire.jpg
"A Part of the Shire" by Christopher Tolkien
General Information
LocationThe Shire
TypeRegion
RegionsBridgefields, the Marish, and The Yale
InhabitantsHobbits, mostly Stoors

The Eastfarthing was one of the four Farthings of the Shire. Its westernmost point was the Three-Farthing Stone, its eastern border was the Brandywine River, and its southern border was the River Shirebourn. Within its bounds were the regions of Bridgefields, the Marish, and The Yale.[1]

Geography[edit | edit source]

Geographical features were the forest of Woody End, the hills of Scary and the Green Hill Country and the rivers Stock-brook, Thistle Brook, and The Water.

Hobbit settlements included Brockenbores, Budgeford, Deephallow, Dwaling, Frogmorton, Rushey, Scary, Stock, Whitfurrows, Willowbottom and Woodhall.[1]

Several roads that connected the towns and villages were East Road, Causeway and Northway[2]

History[edit | edit source]

About T.A. 1630 many Stoors from Dunland entered and settled in the Eastfarthing.[3] Throughout that Age, whenever Bree-hobbits visited the Shire, they mostly reached Buckland or the Eastfarthing, as these were closest to their home, and rarely ventured further west.

When Frodo, Sam, and Pippin travelled from Bag End to Crickhollow much of their trek took place in the Eastfarthing, where they first encountered the Black Riders and were protected by Gildor Inglorion.[4] Continuing eastward, the crossed the fields of the Marish and met Farmer Maggot before they left the Eastfarthing on the Bucklebury Ferry.[5]

Upon their return from their adventures in the south, Frodo, Sam, Pippin, and Merry discovered the evil afoot in the Shire when they entered the Eastfarthing. On the first night they stayed at the uncomfortable guard-house near the Brandywine Bridge. At Frogmorton the Travellers were “arrested” and the spent the night at the Shirriff-house. The next morning they journeyed westward and left the Eastfarthing.[6]

Culture[edit | edit source]

By the time of the War of the Ring the inhabitants of the Eastfarthing were still mainly Stoors, especially in the Marish, known by their large build and heavy-legs, and the small beard on their chin; they were known for many peculiar names and strange words (Stoorish) uncommon in the rest of the Shire.[7] Some months of the Shire Calendar, in the Eastfarthing had different names, the ones used in the Bree Calendar.[8]

In muddy regions, such as the Marish, Hobbits wore dwarf-boots and were house-dwellers, like Farmer Maggot.[5]

The Golden Perch inn was said by Pippin to serve the best beer in the Eastfarthing.[5]

References