Cannock Chase - following the footsteps of JRR Tolkien

Join us as we explore part of Cannock Chase and walk through the historic Shugborough estate, following the footsteps of the author JRR Tolkien when he was based at an Army training barracks on the Chase during the First World War. 

On the walk we’ll follow woodland tracks, cross an ancient footbridge over the river Trent, walk a short length of the Trent & Mersey canal and cross the stepping stones in the river Sherbrook.

Cannock Chase – comprising 26 square miles / 68 square kilometres, this plateau of land rises above the surrounding Staffordshire countryside.  Its geology is sandstone, often soft and pebbly, and the landscape now is a mixture of heathland and forest.  One hundred years ago, at the time of the First World War, the Army established the largest training area in the UK – with two camps accommodating 40,000 men at any one time.

Shugborough – was the home of the Anson family, the Earls of Lichfield.  The present house is largely the work of two Anson brothers – Thomas and George Anson – both successful in their different careers and both invested in the house and surrounding estate during the 18th century.  It’s now in the care of the National Trust.

The Tolkien connection – JRR Tolkien (known as Ronald to his family and friends) is well-known as the author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.  He spent a short, but significant, part of his early life in this area when he was an Army officer based at the training camps on Cannock Chase at various times during 1915-1918.  Aged 24, Ronald married a young woman named Edith Bratt in March 1916 and found a cottage in the nearby village of Great Haywood for her to rent.  Edith lived here for several years and Ronald often walked or cycled to the cottage after his working day.  Later in 1916 he served on the Western Front for six months, returning with trench fever and spent six weeks at home with Edith, recuperating.  Here, he began to write some of the storylines that were to feature later in his books and went walking in the area: around the Shugborough estate, the riverside and along the canal towpaths.  Some local points of interest are thought to have inspired locations in his books.

The walk – following tracks, forest paths, and short lengths of canal towpath and country lane, the walk is 10 miles / 16 kilometres with 100 metres of ascent.

Dogs: well-behaved dogs are welcome on the walk, but must be under control at all times and on a lead in Shugborough park.

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Photo credits: all photos by the event leader with permission granted to ODL for their use.