20, NORTHMOOR ROAD
20, NORTHMOOR ROAD
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1391361
- Date first listed:
- 23-Nov-2004
- List Entry Name:
- 20, NORTHMOOR ROAD
- Statutory Address:
- 20, NORTHMOOR ROAD
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Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1391361
- Date first listed:
- 23-Nov-2004
- List Entry Name:
- 20, NORTHMOOR ROAD
- Statutory Address 1:
- 20, NORTHMOOR ROAD
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- 20, NORTHMOOR ROAD
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Oxfordshire
- District:
- Oxford (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- SP 51146 08301
Details
612/0/10108 NORTHMOOR ROAD 23-NOV-04 20
II
Private house. 1924. Designed by Fred E Openshaw for Basil Blackwell, the owner of Blackwell's Bookshop in Broad Street. During 1930-47 this house was the home of Professor J R R Tolkien.
Roughcast brick with brick plinth, plain tile roof brick stacks. Double pile range, with service end to north. 2 storeys. Wooden mullion windows with leaded casements.
Street front has recessed centre flanked by projecting gabled wings. Plank door to right of recessed centre with 5-light mullion windows on either side. Above a central 3-light window flanked by 4-light windows in the projecting gables.
INTERIOR plan survives unaltered, except for the wall between the former study and drawing room which was removed for Tolkien in order to enlarge the room in which he worked. Original doors, doorhandles and window catches with elaborate heart motif. Open well staircase with wide and narrow splat balusters. Two arched brick fireplaces. Built-in bedroom cupboards and airing cupboard. Built-in meat safe in larder.
This house is listed for its historic importance as the home and workplace of Professor J R R Tolkein from 1930 to 1947. It was in this house that Tolkien wrote the whole of The Hobbit [1930-32, published 1937] and almost all of the Lord of the Rings [1937-49].
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 492578
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 09-Jun-2026 at 07:59:58.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.