I live just on the boundaries of south-west Birmingham here in England.
I consider myself quite fortunate to share the same experiences as Tolkien did during his formative years living in the city, especially enjoying the splended views of the Clent, Lickey & Malvern Hills; along with visiting Sarehole Mill & Moseley Bog, especially the latter as it was thought it influenced Tolkien in his writings about the ancients forests of LOTR, especially The Old Forest & Fangorn.
Of course another Tolkien influence in LOTR was the destruction of the country-side to be replaced by industry: of machine, brick, metal, fire & smoke. Clearly the city of Birmingham was during the 18th, 19th and early 20th century recognised as a leading contributor of the industrial revolution that swept the country during that period.
Obviously this growth came at a cost to the wild countryside when Birmingham (and other cities) expanded at a phenomenal rate both in area & population.
When I watch the LOTR films and see Saruman tear down the trees of Isen and stoke the huge underground furnaces where his servents toil day & night producing armour & swords of iron & steel, along with the scouring of Hobbiton, I am convinced he was influenced in his allegory by the heavy industry that pock-marked the city during his early years.
I seem to have waffled on & on. Oops
