West-gate of Bree
| West-gate of Bree | |
|---|---|
| Location | On the west side of Bree |
| 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
The village of Bree was guarded from outsiders by a deep ditch and a hedge. The great East Road passed through this hedge on its western side, and exited again in the southern corner where the hedge and dike met the sides of the Bree-hill. At both of these points stood a gate that was closed and guarded after nightfall. The gate that looked towards the Shire, the West-gate, 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
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"
