Bywater

From Tolkien Gateway
Bywater
Village
Ralph Damiani - Across Middle-earth - Bywater.png
"Across Middle-earth - Bywater" by Ralph Damiani
General Information
LocationWestfarthing, the Shire
TypeVillage
DescriptionA small village by the Bywater Pool
People and History
InhabitantsHobbits
EventsBattle of Bywater
GalleryImages of Bywater

Bywater was a village in the Westfarthing of the Shire, north of the East Road.[1] It housed the Green Dragon inn and its residents included the Cotton Family and Old Noakes.

The village was by the Bywater Pool with most of its holes and houses on the south bank by the road, the northernmost of which was The Green Dragon. On the north bank of the Pool there was a row of Smials with water-side gardens. From the middle of the village, South Lane led to Cotton’s farm. South from the East Road ran the road north to Hobbiton, lined by an avenue of trees. The village had its own post office.

In T.A. 3018, the Shire was taken over by Saruman and his Ruffians. A year later many houses in Bywater stood empty and some had even been burnt. At the return of Frodo and his companions, Bywater became the centre of the rebellion, with the Travellers rousing the Shire-folk on 2 September, which ultimately ended with the Battle of Bywater and the liberation of the Shire.[2]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

The name refers to it as being beside the pool occurring in the course of the Water.[3]

Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

2001-03: The Lord of the Rings (film series):

The villages of Hobbiton and Bywater were merged in the film so that The Green Dragon was put on the other side of the water from Bag End facing Sandyman's Mill.

2002: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game):

Bywater is the second town encountered by the player. The Cottons, Sackville-Bagginses and Angelica Baggins live there. It is home to both the Green Dragon and the Ivy Bush.

2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Bywater lies directly east of Hobbiton and is notable as the cite of the annual "Farmer's Faire" festival.
Village of Bywater
Hobbiton, The Hill, Overhill, Rushock Bog, Needlehole Bywater Pool, Bindbole Wood.
The Northfarthing
Brockenborings, Scary, Quarry
Waymoot,
Michel Delving.
The Westmarch
WindRose3.pngFrogmorton, Whitfurrows, Brandywine Bridge.
The Eastfarthing, Buckland
Tookbank, Tuckborough Pincup,
Green Hill Country. The Southfarthing
Three-Farthing Stone, Woody End


References