The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
Founded no earlier than III 2340, the year of the first settlement in Buckland
Location
In northeastern Buckland, not far from the High Hay and the Old Forest
Race
Culture
Family
At least one house was known to have been built by the Brandybucks
Meaning
crick- was obscure even to the Hobbits1
-hollow indicates a small depression

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About this entry:

  • Updated 29 September 2012
  • This entry is complete

Crickhollow

A village of northern Buckland

Map of Crickhollow

A village in the northern parts of Buckland. It lay some two-and-a-half miles to the north and east of Bucklebury, and a similar distance to the south of the village of Newbury. It was also notable as being close to the great Hedge that the Bucklanders had built to protect themselves from the strange trees of the Old Forest.

Crickhollow's closeness to the eastern edge of the Hobbit-lands was part of the reason that Frodo Baggins bought a house there, to cover his secret departure from the Shire. Though Frodo and his friends only stayed in his new house overnight, Fredegar Bolger remained behind in disguise to hide Frodo's departure. This subterfuge almost worked too well: five days after Frodo's departure, three Black Riders raided the house, but Fredegar was able to raise the alarm and they were driven away. Later that same day, Gandalf arrived at Crickhollow in search of Frodo, but found that the new house had been abandoned.

The house at Crickhollow was not forgotten when the Travellers returned from the southern lands. For a time, they even considered resting there before riding on into the Shire itself, but the ruin caused by Sharkey put an end to those plans. After Sharkey was destroyed, Frodo Baggins found himself once more the owner of Bag End. Unneeded by its owner, the house at Crickhollow was shared by Merry Brandybuck and Pippin Took for a time.2


Notes

1

The name 'Crickhollow' was possibly influenced by the names of various English villages and towns beginning with crick-. These derive from Celtic words (in keeping with the Celtic naming traditions of the Brandybucks) and the most likely ultimate source is probably crúg, meaning 'mound' or 'hill' (we know that Crickhollow stood in a hilly region).

2

Strictly speaking, the text of The Lord of the Rings says only that 'Merry and Pippin lived together for some time at Crickhollow' (The Return of the King VI 9, The Grey Havens). It's not said categorically, then, that they occupied Frodo's old house, but from the context it seems to be strongly implied.

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 29 September 2012
  • This entry is complete

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