Smials

The term the Hobbits themselves used for the "more luxurious versions of the simple diggings of old" inhabited by the well-to-do. "But suitable sites for these large and ramifying tunnels .... were not everywhere to be found" so many Hobbits lived in wood, brick or stone houses. The poorest, however, "went on living in burrows of the most primitive kind, mere holes indeed, with only one window or none". - Source: The Lord of the Rings, Prologue, 1. Concerning Hobbits.

A more common term for the Hobbits' excavated dwellings is 'hobbit-holes'.

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List of Smials associated with the Tolkien Society

• 1420 - A postal group for those interested in the drinks of Middle-earth. Publishes The Morning After (about 3-4 times a year).
• Amon Hen - San Jose del Cabo, B.C.S. Mexico
• Amon Sûl - Halifax and area.
• Andúnië - Atlanta, Georgia USA based group.
• Armari - A postal group with no defined focus; which can be very tongue in cheek, good sense of humour required! Publishes Gondtengwen (about once a year at present).
• Brandy Hall - Cologne (Köln) and Hessen, Germany - also a smial of Deutsche Tolkien Gesellschaft.
• The Burrahobbits - Local group in Wisconsin, USA.
• Cerin Amroth - Local group in Indiana, USA.
• Far Westfarthing - Local group in Illinois, USA.
• The Golden Perch - Telford based, with some postal members.
• The Grey Company - Newport, Pontypool and valleys of South Wales.
• HEREN HYARMENO (The Order of the South) - This is the oldest existing smial in the Southern Hemisphere, founded on 19 March 1989. It is based in São Paulo, Brasil.
• 'Heren Istarion - Local group in New York City, USA.
• Isengard - Birmingham area.
• Khand - Postal; once based in Saudi Arabia, now in Shropshire.
• Lays of Leithian - A smial of Unquendor, the Dutch Tolkien Society. Local and postal.
• Lómelindi - Local group in Tennessee, USA.
• Minas Tirith (The Cambridge Tolkien Society) - Cambridge and surrounding area. Publishes Anor (3 editions a year).
• 'Mundeli Sernieva - Central England. Publishes Mundo (about 4 a year).
• Nigglings - A postal smial focusing on Middle-earth based fiction and sub-creation.
• Northfarthing - London and home counties - the oldest in the Society and essentially the founding smial.
• Rivendell - Grimsby, Louth and Lincoln area.
• The Shire - Coventry area.
• Southfarthing - Southampton area.
• Taruithorn (The Oxford Tolkien Society) - Oxford & Aylesbury. Publishes Miruvor (3 editions a year).
• Taruithorn International - The postal smial for those no longer in Oxford.
• Tol Andúnë - Oahu, Hawaii.
• Tol Harndor - Australasia & South Pacific postal.
• Turin - Northern Italy, with an interest in Tolkien inspired art.
• Vinyamar - Local group in British Columbia, Canada.
• Westemnet - A cyberspace smial for the West Country.
• Misty Mountains - Denver, Colorado.