The North Door of St Edward's Church Stow on the Wold is famous. Yet it is just the back door to the church. The north side of the church is the unfashionable part of the churchyard where the paupers were buried. The wealthy of the parish were buried in the church or at the west and south end of the churchyard. St Edward's is different.

The History
The door at the north side of the church is a late addition to the medieval church. After the civil war of the 17th century the church was in a very run down condition. Repairs were undertaken in the late 17th and early 18th century and it is likely that this is when the new north door was built. Around this time the Rector of the parish lived next to the church in the building that is now Stow Lodge Hotel. There is a gate in the wall to allow him to cut through the grounds to the church. Perhaps the north door is so grand because the Rector used it. We don't have the written records but it makes sense that this short cut was made to look impressive for the incumbent who had the living.

The Lord of the Rings
In the first book of the trilogy the nine members of the fellowship of the ring ( and Bill the pony) are travelling to the Elvish kingdom of Lothlorien. A storm forces them to seek passage thought the mines under the mountain. The entrance is called Durin's door. It has two holly trees either side of it. We can't show you the image for copyright reasons by you can see it here:

https://www.stowcivicsociety.co.uk/tolkien-door

JRR Tolkien lived in Oxford and his brother lived in Evesham. It is very possible that Tolkien stopped off in Stow on the Wold for a pie and a pint on his way to visit his relative. 

What is more interesting perhaps, is that Tolkien has a real feel for landscape and story and he may have discerned an older story in Stow's history.  Perhaps Tolkien came across our church on its high point on the hill, the place where the last battle of the English Civil War was fought and he reflected on conflict and the power of friendship.

The doors into the mines that the fellowship open were created by a dwarf and and elf. Their races were fierce enemies yet these two became firm friends.  This is echoed in the nine members of the fellowship by the friendship between Gimli the Dwarf and Legolas the elf.

Might our lovely trees have stood for friendship? 

The story of Celebrimbor and Narvi is explored in the Rings of Power season 2.