The Welsh community of Crickhowell has successfully purchased an original letter from Lord of the Rings author JRR Tolkien at auction, with a local business owner declaring the artefact has returned to its 'rightful home'. The fundraiser, initiated by resident Frank Ady, has raised £16,255 so far, falling roughly £3,500 short of the final bill of £19,800.
Letter Details and Auction
The typed letter, dated February 1966, was sent to a Jenny Hall 60 years ago. In it, Tolkien writes: 'Thank you very much for your nice letter. I have been in most parts of Wales, but the place names I use are made up from English models or borrowed from books, though Crickhollow was actually meant to resemble Crickhowell.' He adds: 'The walking elms were meant to be ents (but not entwives). Gandalf had asked one or two of them to keep a watch on the Shire, but he did not tell anybody about it.'
The letter was originally listed by Christie's with an estimated value of £5,000 to £7,000, with bidding starting on Wednesday, July 8. In the Lord of the Rings novels, Crickhollow is a location in Buckland, northeast of Brandy Hall, known for an isolated house occasionally used by Brandybuck Hobbits.
Fundraising Success
Frank Ady, a Crickhowell resident and business owner, launched the fundraiser with an initial goal of £2,200. On Friday, July 10, he announced: 'We were successful in bidding for the Tolkien letter which quotes him as saying that Crickhowell was an inspiration for some of his writings. So the wonderful news is that this letter will be coming to live in its rightful home right here in Crickhowell for both locals and visitors to see.'
He explained that on auction day, an impressive £9,000 had been raised, but bidding started at £12,000. Ady went on to bid and successfully secured the 60-year-old letter at a price of £15,000. Due to additional auction house costs, the final bill amounted to £19,800. He appealed to local residents to help cover the remaining costs.
Community Response
Miraculously, the total raised now stands at £16,255, approximately £3,500 short of the new target. The letter is expected to be displayed in Crickhowell for both locals and visitors to see, celebrating the town's connection to one of the most beloved fantasy series in literary history.
