Tolkien's home to be demolished

JRR Tolkien is believed to have "found refuge" at the bungalow

A seaside bungalow in Dorset, which was once the home of Lord of the Rings author JRR Tolkien is to be demolished.

Tolkien retired to Poole with his wife, Edith, but after she died he sold the property to Stephen Frankel for £23,000 in 1972, before moving to Oxford.

James Dean, of developers Cranbrook Homes (Southern) Ltd, bought it from Mr Frankel, 62, for £1m last November.

The Borough of Poole council has given permission for the historic address to be replaced with two family homes.

The contact with Tolkien's past will be severed Former owner Stephen Frankel

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, who died in 1973, lived in the bungalow - which has views over nearby sand dunes called chines - for four years.

Mr Frankel said he will move out of the house - near Branksome Chine - on 31 October.

He said: "Plans have been passed by Poole council.

"I'm still upset that I sold it. I should never have really sold it but it's done now.

"The contact with Tolkien's past will be severed. People who love Tolkien can walk around and see where he actually resided, while he was here.

'Private and tranquil'

"He obviously loved being out in the chines. The backdrop here is stupendous.

"It's very private and tranquil and I think that's why he decided to retire here."

"Maybe he [the developer] will name one of the new houses The Hobbit and the other the Lord of the Rings," Mr Frankel added.

The beams, which formed part of his study, are reportedly still visible.

Mr Frankel will be selling some pieces that belonged to Tolkien during an open day on Saturday.

They include: a corner unit, two cathedral-style bathroom mirrors and a fireplace.

A new book by Tolkien - completed by his son, Christopher from a series of unfinished manuscripts - went on sale in April, 34 years after the writer's death.

The Children of Hurin, set long before the events of the Rings trilogy, represents the last major work by the author about Middle-earth, said his son Christopher.