I took this photo in Stow-On-The-Wold, England after my fiancée and I had hiked there from the village of Bourton-on-the-Water. We ate lunch around the back side of the church on a bench and an English Robin had landed near us that we fed bread crumbs to.
It was one of our favorite days on our trip and holds very special memories for us!
St. Edward’s Church, Stow-on-the-Wold, in Gloucestershire, was built on the site of a former Saxon church and the present-day edifice fuses various architectural styles. Whilst all of its authentic features are of interest in their own right, there is one feature that has become the most photographed door in the Cotswolds. The church’s north door, flanked by two ancient yew trees is rumoured to have sparked J. R. R. Tolkien’s inspiration for the “Doors of Durin,” the west gate of Moria that appears in a scene in the The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
The north porch of the church was built about 300 years ago and young yew saplings were planted to enhance its entrance. Today these trees are now part of the architraves for the door.
J R R Tolkien was a Professor of Old English at Merton College in Oxford for 14 years and he was known to visit the Cotswolds and Stow in particular. Rumour has it that he was so taken with the door of the church that he used it in his book. Nevertheless, this is still just a rumour, and nobody has so far authenticated it but see for yourself from the photos below.
HorsePast9750 on March 31st, 2025 at 12:09 UTC »
Looks like something out of lord of the rings
ValenTom on March 31st, 2025 at 12:37 UTC »
I took this photo in Stow-On-The-Wold, England after my fiancée and I had hiked there from the village of Bourton-on-the-Water. We ate lunch around the back side of the church on a bench and an English Robin had landed near us that we fed bread crumbs to.
It was one of our favorite days on our trip and holds very special memories for us!
Spartan2470 on March 31st, 2025 at 12:49 UTC »
Here this is on Google Street View.
According to here:
The doors of Durin, lord of Moria: say 'friend' and enter. I, Narvi, made them: Celebrimbor of Hollin drew these signs.