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Dates
Established as the Shire's western border in III 1601; incorporated fully into the Shire in IV 31
Location
Between the Tower Hills and the White Downs
Race
Hobbits
Culture
Shire-hobbits
Settlements
Greenholm
Meaning
'Far' refers to the furthest western extent of the lands settled by the Shire-hobbits1

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 19 February 2007
  • Updates planned: 2

Far Downs

The western borderland of the Shire

Map of the Far Downs
The Far Downs and surrounding country (partially conjectural)

The downlands that marked the western borders of the Shire, forty leagues (120 miles) west from the Brandywine Bridge. Of their geography almost nothing is known, except that the town of Greenholm seems to have been built among the Downs. It was from here that Fastred of Greenholm came, the first Warden of the Westmarch that lay between the Far Downs and, still further westward, the Tower Hills.


Notes

1

In the year IV 31 (or 1452 by the Shire Reckoning), the western border of the Shire was was extended to reach the Tower Hills. After this time the Far Downs were full enclosed within the Shire, and no longer marked its western extent.

See also...

Four Farthings, Greenholm, The River, Undertowers, Warden of Westmarch, Westfarthing of the Shire, Westmarch of the Shire

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