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J R R Tolkien lived at Gipsy Green, on the Teddesley Park Estate, near Penkridge in 1916 where he formed his ideas for lord of the Rings. He and Edith would probably picked up heir provisions from the Grocers in Acton Trussell. I have a William (Bill) Mellor Wall being the grocer there in 1901 dying in 1928. He was born at Gipsey Green (1851 Census) to a single woman Rebecca Wall. She being the daughter of Teddesley Hay (Gipsey Green) born 1823. She being the daughter of Samuel (Sam) Wall of Teddersley Coppice (Gipsey Green) Farm Labourer . Also in the family are Sam Wall Woodman 1810 1872 of Woodbank Cottage his son a Gamekeeper. Joseph Wall 1813 1882 head Agricultural labourer, Joseph Wall 1837 -1882 Gamekeeper

He was made head gardener for West Park Wolverhampton by 1911 staying at the lodge there till his death.

J. R. R. Tolkien lived at Gipsy Green, on the Teddesley Park Estate, near Penkridge in 1916 where he formed his ideas for lord of the Rings. He and Edith would probably picked up heir provisions from the Grocers in Acton Trussell. I have a William (Bill) Mellor Wall being the grocer there in 1901 dying in 1928. He was born at Gipsey Green (1851 Census) to a single woman Rebecca Wall. She being the daughter of Teddesley Hay (Gipsey Green) born 1823. She being the daughter of Samuel (Sam) Wall of Teddersley Coppice (Gipsey Green) Farm Labourer . Also in the family are Sam Wall Woodman 1810 1872 of Woodbank Cottage his son a Gamekeeper. Joseph Wall 1813 1882 head Agricultural labourer, Joseph Wall 1837 -1882 Gamekeeper

He was made head gardener for West Park Wolverhampton by 1911 staying at the lodge there till his death.

Updated July 2018 Three Dawson brothers died during WWI (Tolkien's next door neighbour's and relatives via his wife mentioned above) This was noteworthy at the time desite the many casualties if the war. Edward Dawson was initially excuse from the army due to flat-feet and a deformed middle finger on his right hand.(Could not wear a ring??) The medical rules were then relaxed so he was conscripted. They were also members of a secret society, The Oddfellowship with secret signs and code words. The met at Teddesley Hall next door for meetings held by Catholic Lord Hatherton.

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/cuttlestones/catalogue-id-cuttle10161/lot-7b3232e6-5efc-4279-9dfc-a8f000b5a829

Extract from the Birmingham Mail circa 1918

Birmingham Mail The Tragedy of war is sadly exemplified by the death of three sons of Mr and Mrs T Dawson of Lordswood Teddesley near Penkridge L Corps Thomas William he eldest son enlisted in the Rifle Brigade in September 1914 went to France in March 1915 and was killed in action on May 9 of that year.L corps Harry Dawson the second son enlisted in Queens Victoria's Rifles (London Regiment on November 1914 went to France on Aug 17, 1915 and was wounded July 1 1916. he returned to France in march 1917 was reported missing five months later on the 16th of August 1917) and on Jun 28 .... was officially reported as having died. Pte Edward John, the third son, was officially reported killed on the 19th July last. On attaining the age of 18 he joined the Durham Light infantry on Jan 31. He spent the first part of his training at a Midland Camp and completed it in Yorkshire, sailing to France on the 2nd of July. The Commanding Officer in a letter expressing his sympathy of the officers, non commissioned officers and men, says - "Although having been with the battalion only 14 days, he proved himself a thourgh soldier and a very efficient Lewis gunman. Prior to enlisting he was in the employ of Lord Hatherton on the in-door staff at Teddesley. All three brothers were members of the Loyal Teddesley Lodge of Oddfellows, Penkridge. Also this more recent article. https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/nostalgia/three-brothers-went-fight-world-14117903

I also visited Gypsey Green and was told by the farmer next door that it had been own the the Underhill family and famed for it's impressive garden.

Update Feb 2018

Sam is definitely family to Tolkien s well.

From the Census:-

Samuel Wall

1851 Gipsey Green, Penkridge, Staffordshire, England ( J.R.R Tolkien was to later live here when he wrote/formulated Lord of the Rings, he is also related via his sister Mary Wall (1781-1864) marrying John Bagnall (1779-1859) his brother William (Bill) Bagnall marrying Ann Jackson (1776-1810) their son Randle Bagnall marriage to Sophia Shirley (1798-1856) in Brewood her mother Ann Winfield(1765-) 2nd marriage to John Brooks (1762-1847) his brother Edward Edward Brooks(1764-1802) (great Grandfather of Edith Tolkien) via Alice Brooks (1796) married to Francis Bratt (1797-1864) his son William Bratt (1822-1862) his daughter Frances Bratt (1859-1903) Edith Tolkien's mother.

1851 Farm Labourer and Head with Hannah son Joseph 35 Farm Labourer Robert 25 farm Labourer Elizabeth 19 Grandson William 8 Granddaughter Ann 1

4 Jan 1854 Gypsey Green, Teddesley Coppice,Acton Trussell and Bednall, Staffordshire, England Lord Hatherton's Journal This morning an old Teddesley labourer, Samuel Wall, had his hand torn off by machinery at the farm. Lister and MacKenzie attended him and took his arm off below the elbow.

10 Jan 1854 Gypsey Green, Teddesley Coppice,Acton Trussell and Bednall, Staffordshire, England Lord Hatherton's Journal We walked through the snow to see old Samuel Wall at Gypsy Green who has had his arm amputated. He is 59 and bore the operation remarkably well and is going on well.

1871 Acton Trussel Agricultural Worker living next to Grocers Shop

You can follow all the hops on the tree here via some very hobbity names and locations:-

https://www.geni.com/people/Samuel-Wall/6000000075964508880?through=6000000076100410973

His grandchildren stayed on the Teddesley Estate

https://www.geni.com/people/Edward-Dawson/6000000076100589210?through=6000000076101853913

https://www.geni.com/people/Thomas-Dawson/6000000076101410854?through=6000000076100589210

Edward Dawson and Thomas Dawson sadly died in WWI whilst Edith Bratt was staying there.

https://www.geni.com/people/Frederick-Dawson/6000000076101853913

Frederick Dawson was Tolkien's local postmaster at a very young age on the Teddesley Estate.

https://www.geni.com/people/William-Mellor/6000000076101715828?through=6000000076101060845

William Dawson was Tolkien's local grocer on the Teddesley Estate

His other Grandson Edwin Wall was born on the Teddesley Esate then lived at Wightwick working as a lock keeper Edith Bratt's mother was born at Wightwick just beforehand.

https://www.geni.com/people/Edwin-Wall/6000000075963789935?through=6000000075963980821

His daughter my great grandmother married my grandfather whose mother was from Cheltenham.

The other Grandson my Great Grandmother's brother was a renowned gardener first working at

https://www.geni.com/people/Charles-Wall/6000000076103214821?through=6000000075963789935

Charles Wall was Domestic under Gardener at Mount Road Tettenhall in 1901 This is on Grotto Lane next to mount road. It is at the bottom of a large cliff like the Doors of Durin but mysteriously does not lead anywhere. https://www.geni.com/photo/view/6000000016938415303?photo_id=6000000076102878069

He was made head gardener for West Park Wolverhampton by 1911 staying at the lodge there till his death.

I believe I have found something really quite interesting indeed when researching my family tree.

J R R Tolkien lived at Gipsy Green, on the Teddesley Park Estate, near Penkridge in 1916 where he formed his ideas for lord of the Rings. He and Edith would probably picked up heir provisions from the Grocers in Acton Trussell. I have a William (Bill) Mellor Wall being the grocer there in 1901 dying in 1928. He was born at Gipsey Green (1851 Census) to a single woman Rebecca Wall. She being the daughter of Teddesley Hay (Gipsey Green) born 1823. She being the daughter of Samuel (Sam) Wall of Teddersley Coppice (Gipsey Green) Farm Labourer . Also in the family are Sam Wall Woodman 1810 1872 of Woodbank Cottage his son a Gamekeeper. Joseph Wall 1813 1882 head Agricultural labourer, Joseph Wall 1837 -1882 Gamekeeper

There is also George Wall born about 1845 admitted to the asylum in 1896.

Indeed generations of the Wall family were estate workers of Teddesley Hall. they are listed here: Tenants and Workers on the Teddesley Estate, along with the Bagnall and Cotton Tolkienesque surnames.

There are links to Freemasonry in the family plus Fanny Wall 1852-1924 married a Stone Mason Charles Atkins 1851-1895. being from a line of stone masons. Haywood Butts, Colwich (Next to The Ring see below) One of the sons being William H Atins born 1859 a gardener at Deans Hill in 1881. Fanny is my 3rd Great Aunt connecting to my Idiens family with connections to freemasonry.

I also came across some local history in Great Haywood: The Ring, Great Haywood.

Lord Hatherton moved all his estate workers into a construction called The Ring in 1810, demolished in 1965 but very much a feature of the village before then and almost certainly known about by Tolkien. He also owned Hatherton Colliery where many of the workers ended up. In other words...."The Ring to Rule them All and in the darkness bind them."

Someone must have noticed this connection before.

Thanks for the original poster for asking the question and prompting me to dig a little deeper. I stumbled on this question whilst looking up something else technical on this website.

Update 2017 Rebecca Wall went on to marry a John Dawson (1832-1890) They lived at Gypsey Green according to the 1881 census. The Teddesley Hall records have a John Dawson as the keeper 1863-1867. His son's baptism records confirms him as gardener in 1891. She had 7 legitimate children with him. Her daughter Anne Dawson (1849-1874) married a William Sollom (1850-1920) in 1873 but dies in 1874.(Sollom sounds a bit like Gollum a bit tenuous but read on)

Her son Thomas Dawson (1859-1939) was at Gypsey Green in 1881 then lived next door at Lords Wood as a Waggoner, he had 5 children. His son Thomas William (Bill) Dawson (1891-1915) was groom at Teddesley Hall stables but died in France during WWI (9 May 1915). His brother Edward John Dawson (1900-1918) also died in Belgium during WWI.

Her other son Fred Dawson (1902-1965) sounds like Ferodo married the Postmaster Edwin Cope(1855-1928)'s daughter Hilda Jane Cope (1905-1986) in 1929 becoming the postmaster himself sometime between 1905 and 1911 where Edwin Cope becomes a gardener.

So the young Fred would have been trusted with Tolkien's mail whilst his brother's died in battle. His half brother William Wall (Bill see above) would have been supplying him tatters.

I believe I have found something really quite interesting indeed when researching my family tree.

J R R Tolkien lived at Gipsy Green, on the Teddesley Park Estate, near Penkridge in 1916 where he formed his ideas for lord of the Rings. He and Edith would probably picked up heir provisions from the Grocers in Acton Trussell. I have a William (Bill) Mellor Wall being the grocer there in 1901 dying in 1928. He was born at Gipsey Green (1851 Census) to a single woman Rebecca Wall. She being the daughter of Teddesley Hay (Gipsey Green) born 1823. She being the daughter of Samuel (Sam) Wall of Teddersley Coppice (Gipsey Green) Farm Labourer . Also in the family are Sam Wall Woodman 1810 1872 of Woodbank Cottage his son a Gamekeeper. Joseph Wall 1813 1882 head Agricultural labourer, Joseph Wall 1837 -1882 Gamekeeper

There is also George Wall born about 1845 admitted to the asylum in 1896.

Indeed generations of the Wall family were estate workers of Teddesley Hall. they are listed here: Tenants and Workers on the Teddesley Estate, along with the Bagnall and Cotton Tolkienesque surnames.

There are links to Freemasonry in the family plus Fanny Wall 1852-1924 married a Stone Mason Charles Atkins 1851-1895. being from a line of stone masons. Haywood Butts, Colwich (Next to The Ring see below) One of the sons being William H Atins born 1859 a gardener at Deans Hill in 1881. Fanny is my 3rd Great Aunt connecting to my Idiens family with connections to freemasonry.

I also came across some local history in Great Haywood: The Ring, Great Haywood.

Lord Hatherton moved all his estate workers into a construction called The Ring in 1810, demolished in 1965 but very much a feature of the village before then and almost certainly known about by Tolkien. He also owned Hatherton Colliery where many of the workers ended up. In other words...."The Ring to Rule them All and in the darkness bind them."

Someone must have noticed this connection before.

Thanks for the original poster for asking the question and prompting me to dig a little deeper. I stumbled on this question whilst looking up something else technical on this website.

Update 2017 Rebecca Wall went on to marry a John Dawson (1832-1890) They lived at Gypsey Green according to the 1881 census. The Teddesley Hall records have a John Dawson as the keeper 1863-1867. His son's baptism records confirms him as gardener in 1891. She had 7 legitimate children with him. Her daughter Anne Dawson (1849-1874) married a William Sollom (1850-1920) in 1873 but dies in 1874.(Sollom sounds a bit like Gollum a bit tenuous but read on)

Her son Thomas Dawson (1859-1939) was at Gypsey Green in 1881 then lived next door at Lords Wood as a Waggoner, he had 5 children. His son Thomas William (Bill) Dawson (1891-1915) was groom at Teddesley Hall stables but died in France during WWI (9 May 1915). His brother Edward John Dawson (1900-1918) also died in Belgium during WWI.

Her other son Fred Dawson (1902-1965) (sounds a bit like Frodo) married the Postmaster Edwin Cope(1855-1928)'s daughter Hilda Jane Cope (1905-1986) in 1929 becoming the postmaster himself sometime between 1905 and 1911 where Edwin Cope becomes a gardener.

So the young Fred would have been trusted with Tolkien's mail whilst his brother's died in battle. His half brother William Wall (Bill see above) would have been supplying him tatters. This is during the time Tolkien was convalescing at Gypsey Green where he had time to imagine his future works.