• Home
  • About
    • Work with Me
  • Travel Planning & Itineraries
  • Destinations
    • England
    • France
    • Italy
    • Scotland
    • United States
    • Wales
  • Mental Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
Life Well Wandered

Life Well Wandered

20 October 2020 · Leave a Comment

The Real-Life Inspiration for Moria? Exploring St. Edward’s Church in Stow-on-the-Wold

Destinations· England

Share this post:

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on LinkedIn Share on Email

Did this door inspire Tolkien’s Doors of Durin?

lord of the rings door yew tree door st edwards church stow on the wold cotswolds england

Studded with nails and framed on both sides by two gnarled, ancient yew trees, the 13th-century north door of St. Edward’s Church in Stow-on-the-Wold looks as if it would transport a visitor to another realm should they pass through it.

According to many, this door served as Tolkien’s inspiration for the Doors of Durin that guard the western entrance to the Mines of Moria. In both the book and the film, the Doors of Durin are framed by two large yew trees just like this real-life hobbit door at St. Edward’s Church in Stow-on-the-Wold. However, the resemblance pretty much stops there.

While Tolkien did visit the Cotswolds many times, there’s no concrete proof to support this fantastical theory. Even so, the door at St. Edward’s Church in Stow-on-the-Wold is well worth a visit for any Lord of the Rings (or fantasy) fan. There are many more possible sources of inspiration for Tolkien and Lord of the Rings in the Cotswolds.

(Unfortunately, saying friend will not open the door.)

the lord of the rings door at st. edwards church in stow on the wold cotswolds england framed by two ancient yew trees

Aside from its suspected Lord of the Rings connection, St. Edward’s Church in Stow-on-the-Wold makes for a great stop on a visit to the town.

History of St. Edward’s Church

The earliest documented reference to a church at the site dates to 986 AD. Because monks from Evesham Abbey owned land in the area as early as 708 AD, it is possible that an earlier iteration of the church existed at that time. The earliest church(es) on the site would have been built using wood.

Unfortunately, almost nothing remains of the 12th-century Norman stone church. The nave, the oldest part of the church, was constructed in the 13th century. The chancel was built in the 14th century and the tower was rebuilt in 1445 on an older base.

exterior of st edwards church in stow on the wold england

The Battle of Stow-on-the-Wold

I discuss this battle in more detail in my guide to Stow-on-the-Wold. After this battle, Royalist prisoners were held in the church. Visitors can look out for a memorial on the floor commemorating the Royalist soldier, Captain Hastings Keyte of Ebrington.

Because of damage to the church during the battle and its aftermath, St. Edward’s Church was in desperate need of repair. However, it wouldn’t be fully restored until the late 1600s. In 1847 and 1859, JL Pearson, known for architecting Truro Cathedral in Cornwall, restored the church.

exterior image of st edwards church in stow on the wold england

Points of interest in St. Edward’s Church

  • The North Door, or Hobbit door, or yew tree door, or Lord of the Rings Door, which potentially served as the inspiration for Tolkien’s Doors of Durin. (north exterior)
  • The Crucifixion painting by early 17th-century Flemish artist Gaspar de Crayer. Joseph Chamberlayne of Maugersbury Manor presented it to the church in 1875. (south entrance)
  • A gilded memorial to the Chamberlayne family, lords of the manor. (south wall of the chancel)
  • The 16th-century font
  • 13th-century nave columns
See also  Oxford

Which Edward is St. Edward’s Church named after?

The Edward from whom St. Edward’s Church takes its name has never been 100% agreed upon. There are three possible Edwards. The first was an early Christian hermit who lived at the base of Stow Hill. The second, a 10th-century Saxon boy king and martyr. The third, and the most likely, candidate is most likely King Edward the Confessor, the son of Aethelred the Unready and one of the last Anglo-Saxon kings of England, who reigned from 1042-1066.

The town of Stow-on-the-Wold was named Edwardstow until 1107 when Henry II granted the town a charter and renamed it Stow-on-the-Wold. The church kept the name St. Edward’s Church.

Visiting St. Edward’s Church

The church is open daily and free to enter. As always, visiting a house of worship necessitates respect and quiet for those who might be worshipping inside.

There is free parking in Stow-on-the-Wold but I recommend parking in the free visitor parking adjacent to the Tesco on Fosse Way, about a 5-minute walk to the Market Square and an 8-minute walk to the church.

stow on the wold cotswolds england

What else to do in Stow-on-the-Wold

As one of the larger market towns in the Cotswolds, Stow-on-the-Wold has plenty to offer visitors aside from its Hobbit door. Enjoy a meal at one of its many historic pubs, go antiquing at some of the finest antique shops in southern England, or take a stroll around its Market Square. Learn more about what there is to do in Stow-on-the-Wold in my guide to the town.

You may also like

Share this post:

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on LinkedIn Share on Email
Previous Post: « A Lord of the Rings Guide to the Cotswolds: Places That Inspired Tolkien’s World
Next Post: A Guide to Stow-on-the-Wold in the Cotswolds »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Welcome to Life Well Wandered

alex life well wandered

Welcome to my corner of the internet! Life Well Wandered is a travel blog where you'll find a little bit of everything. I love sharing itineraries from past trips, secret spots I've discovered on my travels, histories of places I find fascinating, and stories about my mental health.

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
Life Well Wandered

Search

What’s New

  • A Guide to Stow-on-the-Wold in the Cotswolds
  • The Real-Life Inspiration for Moria? Exploring St. Edward’s Church in Stow-on-the-Wold
  • A Lord of the Rings Guide to the Cotswolds: Places That Inspired Tolkien’s World
  • Day Trips from London: Stonehenge & Salisbury
  • Visiting Upper Slaughter in the Cotswolds: A Guide
Follow
college tourist

Note: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Please check our disclosure page for more information.

lifewellwandered

My favorite stop in Bruges was City Hall. Built in My favorite stop in Bruges was City Hall. Built in 1376, it is one of the oldest in the Low Countries and has been used as the seat of the city government for over 600 years. 🤓
Inside City Hall is the beautiful gothic hall. It was remodeled in the 19th century and decorated with beautiful murals and woodwork from floor to ceiling. The ceiling dates from 1385. The murals were painted in the 19th century and depict different people from Belgian history, including Jan Van Eyck, Brueghel, Rubens, and more. 😍 #lifewellwandered
If you fancy climbing up about 400 steps in a spir If you fancy climbing up about 400 steps in a spiral staircase, then consider visiting the Belfry in Bruges. From the top, you'll see just how beautiful Bruges is, with its winding streets and orange rooftops. 😍
Dating back to the 13th century, the Belfry is the most important tower in Bruges. At over 83 meters (272 feet) tall, it was an important status symbol in the Middle Ages. It formerly housed the treasury and city archives, as well as a market for the town. 🏰
At the top of the tower, you'll find a carillon—47 bells playable by hand with a keyboard—with bells ranging in weight from two pounds to 11,000 pounds. Historically, the bells were used not only to mark the passage of time but also to alert residents of fires, work hours, or important events. Today, if you visit at the top of the hour, you'll get to experience the ringing of the bells. 🛎 #lifewellwandered
In March of 2015, I began my biggest trip around E In March of 2015, I began my biggest trip around Europe to date. We had about 5 weeks off (during which we were supposed to be revising for exams) so my friend and I took the opportunity to see as much of Europe as possible while also getting to know each stop as well as possible. A hard balance to strike, but we did the best we could! 🇪🇺
Our first stop was Bruges. We visited on the day of a solar eclipse, but it was already cloudy and foggy so the lack of sunlight wasn’t noticed. We spent our day in Bruges wandering around the streets and eating waffles - not a bad start to a trip around Europe that would be characterized by eating and wandering! 🍽 #lifewellwandered
The last stop on my series of day trips around Eng The last stop on my series of day trips around England was Windsor. I had been close to Windsor once before but had yet to visit Windsor Castle or the town. Windsor Castle was overwhelming. 🏰
It is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, founded by William the Conqueror and the home of 39 monarchs. We spent hours walking around the various wings and exhibits, trying to absorb everything we could. Have you visited Windsor Castle before? 👑 #lifewellwandered
Bath is most famous for, well, its Roman baths. As Bath is most famous for, well, its Roman baths. As a Roman history nerd, Bath was on my to-visit list for ages and I spent my entire visit to the baths geeking out over all of the artifacts and ruins. 🤓
For thousands of years, 240,000 gallons of 115ºF water has risen into this spring, known as the Sacred Spring, daily. In Roman times, this phenomenon was believed to be the work of the Gods, so Romans built a temple dedicated to the goddess Sulis Minerva, a deity with healing powers, around the spring. Water from it feeds the Roman baths. 🛁 #lifewellwandered
Three churches have occupied the site of Bath Abbe Three churches have occupied the site of Bath Abbey since 757AD. There was first an Anglo-Saxon monastery, then a massive Norman cathedral (the foundations of which can be seen underground in one part of the Abbey) and then the present abbey church from the 1600s. ⛪️
The first King of England, King Edgar, was crowned here in 973 - his coronation set the precedent for the current coronation ceremony of all kings and queens of England. 👑 #lifewellwandered
I visited Winchester on what felt like the first w I visited Winchester on what felt like the first warm, sunny day in months. When you live in a place without regular sun, you always take advantage of beautiful days. Winchester made the perfect destination for a beautiful day spent walking around and exploring. 🤗
Winchester’s High Street is built along the original Roman street that led through the town. Today, it has buildings dating from the 16th century. The clock was presented after a visit from Queen Anne in 1713. 🕑 #lifewellwandered
Chances are, you’ve heard of the Knights of the Chances are, you’ve heard of the Knights of the Round Table. Did you know that the Round Table of King Arthur can be found in the Great Hall in Winchester? ⚔️
While this table was created around 1290, well after the death of King Arthur and his knights, it’s still impressive to visit. Weighing over one ton, it is thought to portray King Arthur on his throne surrounded by 24 places for his knights. King Henry VIII added a Tudor Rose during his reign. Swipe for a closer look at the table! 🤓 #lifewellwandered
In another edition of always visit the cathedral i In another edition of always visit the cathedral in the town you visit, I bring you Winchester Cathedral. One of the reasons why I chose to visit Winchester of all places was its connection to Jane Austen. Jane Austen spent the last weeks of her life in a house in Winchester and was laid to rest in its cathedral in 1817. ⛪️
Have you ever traveled somewhere because of a favorite author? 🤓 #lifewellwandered
Load More... Follow on Instagram
  • Home
  • About
  • Travel Planning & Itineraries
  • Destinations
  • Mental Health
  • Lifestyle

Copyright © 2023 · beloved theme by Restored 316