Last month, we shared the exciting news that a recently discovered letter written by J.R.R. Tolkien had finally confirmed a story that had circulated around Crickhowell for decades that the town was the inspiration for Crickhollow in The Lord of the Rings. Since then, the story has taken an extraordinary turn.
J.R.R Tolkien’s illustration, The Hill: Hobbition across the water. The landscape of the Usk valley is thought to have inspired Tolkien’s Shire. Used with the kind permission of the Tolkien estate.
Thanks to an incredible outpouring of generosity from local residents, Tolkien enthusiasts and supporters from much further afield, the campaign to bring the letter to Crickhowell captured imaginations around the world. Hundreds of people donated to a public appeal, determined to ensure this remarkable piece of literary history found its home here, where so many believe it belongs.
When the letter went under the hammer at Christie’s, however, the bidding far exceeded expectations. Although the community had already raised more than £9,000, bidding opened at £12,000 before finally reaching £15,000. Once auction fees were added, the total cost came to £19,800.
Faced with the prospect of the letter disappearing into a private collection – perhaps never to be seen by the public again – campaign organiser and Crickhowell business owner Frank Ady made the courageous decision to continue bidding. Thankfully, he was successful.
The letter has now been purchased and is on its way to its permanent home in Crickhowell.
Writing after the auction, Frank admitted there was a moment of “gulp” as he completed payment, but said he simply couldn’t let such an important part of the town’s story disappear. He and his wife, Sam, have personally bridged much of the financial gap, but they’re now making one final appeal to help cover the remaining costs and fund a secure display so that both residents and visitors can enjoy seeing the letter for years to come.
At the time of writing, the appeal has raised more than £18,000 through over 330 donations, a remarkable demonstration of what can happen when a community comes together behind something it believes in.
Soon, visitors to Crickhowell won’t just be able to enjoy the landscape that may have inspired Middle-earth, they’ll also be able to see the very letter in which Tolkien himself acknowledged the connection.
If you’d like to help complete this extraordinary journey and ensure the letter can be securely displayed for everyone to enjoy, donations to the campaign are still warmly welcomed.
After all, some stories really do deserve a happy ending.
