Brandywine Bridge
| Brandywine Bridge | |
|---|---|
| Physical Description | |
| Type | Bridge |
| Location | Eastern border of the Shire |
| Realms | The Shire |
| Description | Stone bridge |
| General Information | |
| Other names | Bridge of StonebowsGreat Bridgei Varanduiniant[1] |
The Brandywine Bridge was the bridge on the East Road crossing the River Brandywine; it marked the eastern border of the Shire.[2]
History
Originally called the Bridge of Stonebows, when the Hobbits first settled in the Shire the Kings of Arnor required them to keep the Great Bridge in repair.[3]
Although unmentioned in his memoirs, Bilbo Baggins undoubtedly crossed and recrossed the bridge in T.A. 2941 and 2942[4] on his adventure to the Lonely Mountain.
Frodo Baggins and his companions did not use the bridge when they left the Shire in 3018. However, on their return trip they came to the bridge on 5 October 3019.[5] To their surprise they found the bridge blocked on both ends with two spiked gates. Despite a sign proclaiming "No admittance between sundown and sunrise" the four hobbits made their way over the bridge, after dispatching Bill Ferny. They stayed the night at the guard-house before moving on to rouse the Shire.[6]
In Fo.A. 15 King Elessar rode to the Brandywine Bridge and greeted his old friends (but did not cross into the Shire for he himself had forbidden men to enter the land in an edict of Fo.A. 6). At this meeting he bestowed the Star of the Dúnedain on Samwise Gamgee and made Sam's daughter Elanor a maid of honour to Queen Arwen.[7]
Portrayal in adaptations
2010: The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest:
- The meeting of Elessar and the Mayor in Fo.A. 15 is featured in a cutscene after the last mission. It is portrayed as a low, wooden bridge.[8]
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Sauron Defeated, "Part One: The End of the Third Age: XI. The Epilogue"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "A Part of the Shire" map
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, "Prologue", "Concerning Hobbits"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Chief Days from the Fall of Barad-dûr to the End of the Third Age"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Scouring of the Shire"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "Later Events Concerning the Members of the Fellowship of the Ring"
- ↑ "Lord of the Rings Aragonr's Quest Walkthrough Black Gates pt 2 ", YouTube (accessed 30 June 2012)