West-gate of Bree
| West-gate of Bree | |
|---|---|
| Gate | |
| Location | West side of Bree |
| Owner | Bree-landers |
| Appearance | Facing a deep dike, within a thick hedge |
The West-gate of Bree was the portal into Bree on the west side of the settlement.
Description[edit]
The West-gate was one of the two openings of the hedge that surrounded Bree, at the points where the East Road entered and exited the village. Being the westernmost opening to Bree, it looked towards the Shire. It was guarded by one Harry Goatleaf during the War of the Ring,[1] though he later joined with Bill Ferny and the followers of Saruman.[2] Since it is mentioned that the gate clanged when shut it apparently was made of metal.[1]
History[edit]
Frodo, Merry, Pippin, and Sam arrived at the West-gate on 29 September T.A. 3019[3] well after dark. Harry Goatleaf was sitting in a lodge beyond the gate but when the hobbits arrived he jumped up, fetched a lantern, and looked over the gate. He questioned the travelers before allowing them entry. After the hobbits left a dark figure climbed over the gate without Harry being aware of his entry.[1]
Later Strider told the hobbits that Black Riders had visited Harry Goatleaf at the West-gate on Monday[4] (27 September[5]).
After the War of the Ring the four hobbits returned to Bree on their journey home. They passed through the West-gate heading for the Shire on 30 October T.A. 3019.[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "At the Sign of the Prancing Pony"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Homeward Bound"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Great Years"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Strider"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix D, "The Shire Calendar"
- ↑ 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"
