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Gaffer Gamgee

2006-11-07T22:08:03Z

87.81.92.40:

[[Image:Stephen Hickman - Gaffer Gamgee and the Black Rider.jpg|thumb|250px|''Gaffer Gamgee and the [[Black Riders|Black Rider]]'' by [[Stephen Hickman]].]]
'''Gaffer Gamgee''' was a common nickname for the father of [[Samwise Gamgee]], who was more properly called '[[Hamfast Gamgee|Hamfast]]'. He presumably acquired the name '[[Gaffer]]' later in his life, because it implies a person of advanced years. This was certainly true of Hamfast, who was old enough to remember [[Bilbo]]'s return from [[Erebor]], and was no less than ninety-two years old when his son Sam left the [[Shire]] with [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]].

'Gaffer' has another meaning, too, which is no doubt also relevant. In British slang, a 'gaffer' is a foreman, a person who supervises a job. At the time of [[Birthday Party|Bilbo's Birthday Party]], we're told that Hamfast, who was then seventy-five, oversaw the gardening at [[Bag End]], but was helped by his son Sam. In that sense, then, Gaffer Gamgee actually was a 'gaffer'.

The name may have been inspired by Joseph Gamgee, the inventor of "Gamgee Tissue" (better known as cotton wool) who was known to have lived opposite [[Tolkien]] on Stirling Road, [[Birmingham]], England.

[[Category:Hobbits]]
[[Category:Gamgee]]

Gaffer Gamgee

2006-11-07T22:07:07Z

87.81.92.40:

[[Image:Stephen Hickman - Gaffer Gamgee and the Black Rider.jpg|thumb|250px|''Gaffer Gamgee and the [[Black Riders|Black Rider]]'' by [[Stephen Hickman]].]]
'''Gaffer Gamgee''' was a common nickname for the father of [[Samwise Gamgee]], who was more properly called '[[Hamfast Gamgee|Hamfast]]'. He presumably acquired the name '[[Gaffer]]' later in his life, because it implies a person of advanced years. This was certainly true of Hamfast, who was old enough to remember [[Bilbo]]'s return from [[Erebor]], and was no less than ninety-two years old when his son Sam left the [[Shire]] with [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]].

'Gaffer' has another meaning, too, which is no doubt also relevant. In British slang, a 'gaffer' is a foreman, a person who supervises a job. At the time of [[Birthday Party|Bilbo's Birthday Party]], we're told that Hamfast, who was then seventy-five, oversaw the gardening at [[Bag End]], but was helped by his son Sam. In that sense, then, Gaffer Gamgee actually was a 'gaffer'.

The name is likely to have been inspired by Joseph Gamgee, the inventor of "Gamgee Tissue" (better known as cotton wool) who lived opposite [[Tolkien]] on Stirling Road, [[Birmingham]], England during Tolkien's childhood.

[[Category:Hobbits]]
[[Category:Gamgee]]

The Ivy Bush

2006-11-07T21:59:02Z

87.81.92.40:

The '''Ivy Bush''' was an inn located on [[Bywater Road]]. It was frequented by the [[Hobbits]] of [[Hobbiton]], and [[Bywater]]. It was here that [[Gaffer Gamgee]] got quite an audience who were interested in the stories he told about [[Bilbo Baggins | Bilbo]], and [[Frodo Baggins]].

The Ivy Bush was also the name of a public house located on Hagley Road, [[Birmingham]], England. When [[Tolkien]] lived on Stirling Road this would have been his local hostelry and could be found halfway between his house and the Birmingham Oratory, where he worshiped for a time.

[[Category:Inns]]
[[Category:Shire]]

The Ivy Bush

2006-11-07T21:55:23Z

87.81.92.40:

The '''Ivy Bush''' was an inn located on [[Bywater Road]]. It was frequented by the [[Hobbits]] of [[Hobbiton]], and [[Bywater]]. It was here that [[Gaffer Gamgee]] got quite an audience who were interested in the stories he told about [[Bilbo Baggins | Bilbo]], and [[Frodo Baggins]].

The Ivy Bush was also the name of a public house located on Hagley Road, Birmingham, England. When Tolkien lived on Stirling Road this would have been his local hostelry and could be found halfway between his house and the Birmingham Oratory, where he worshiped for a time.

[[Category:Inns]]
[[Category:Shire]]