Westfarthing

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Westfarthing
Region
General Information
LocationThe Shire
TypeRegion
RegionsThe Shire
People and History
InhabitantsHobbits
EventsFree Fair, The Unexpected Party, Bilbo's Farewell Feast, Battle of Bywater

The Westfarthing was one of the four Farthings of the Shire. Its easternmost point was the Three Farthing Stone[1] and on its western border were the Far Downs[2] (and later, from Fo.A. 32 on, the region of Westmarch). Within its bounds was the "capital" of the Shire, Michel Delving and the ancestral homeland of the Tooks (and thus the seat of the Thain), known as Tookland.[3] Also, in the Westfarthing was the home of Bilbo Baggins and his nephew, Frodo Baggins.[1]

The Hobbitish dialect of the Westfarthing had retained the deferential pronoun of the proper Westron in scattered parts. It was used more as a light-hearted term of endearment.[4]

Geographic Features

A considerable portion of this farthing was included on the map called A Part of the Shire so many features of this section were shown:

In the Far Downs, another town (not shown on the map) existed: Greenholm.[5] Peregrin Took told Bergil in Minas Tirith that his father farmed lands around Whitwell near Tuckborough.[6] In The Atlas of Middle-earth the name of this town was attached to an unnamed village west of Tookbank and south of Waymeet.

History

Every seven years the Mayor of Michel Delving was elected at the Free Fair on the White Downs at Lithe.[7]

In T.A. 2941, the Unexpected Party occurred in the home of Bilbo Baggins at Bag End[8] in the West Farthing, and from the Green Dragon in Bywater, the quest of Thorin Oakenshield began.[9] When Bilbo returned the next year he had to deal with an auction of his belongings since he had been presumed dead.[10]

To celebrate his 111th and Frodo's 33rd birthdays as well as his departure from the Shire, in T.A. 3001 Bilbo held a farewell feast.[8]

On 23 September T.A. 3018, Frodo, Sam, and Pippin left Bag End heading for Crickhollow.[11]

Upon their return from their adventures in the south, Frodo, Sam, Pippin, and Merry returned to the Shire and in the Westfarthing they were the leaders in the Battle of Bywater, on 1 November T.A. 3019[12]

References