Dates

On the North-South Road, which was constructed by the Dúnedain in the last years of the Second Age

Location

On Baranduin, at the point where the North-South Road crossed from the Southfarthing of the Shire into Minhiriath

Race

Originally established by Men, but most associated with Hobbits by the end of the Third Age

Culture

Originated with the Dúnedain, but later used by Shire-hobbits

Pronunciation

Sarn is pronounced 'sa'rrn' (with the r sound distinctly pronounced, as indicated by 'rr')

Meaning

A partial translation of Elvish sarn athrad, 'stony ford'¹

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Updated 9 October 2017
Updates planned: 1

Sarn Ford

The crossing of the Baranduin to the south of the Shire

Years of the TreesFirst AgeISecond AgeIIThird AgeIIIFourth AgeIV

The stony ford on the River Baranduin, on the far southern borders of the Shire.

Notes

There was a ford across the river Gelion in the First Age named in the full Elvish form Sarn Athrad, translated 'Ford of Stones'. Sarn Ford was once also known by this full Elvish name, which it was given by the Dúnedain in recollection of the famous ancient ford. By the end of the Third Age common Hobbit usage had worn the name down to simply 'Sarn Ford'. In his notes on nomenclature in The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien suggests an alternative translation that might have been used by the Hobbits. Rather than the formal 'Ford of Stones' of the First Age, Sarn Ford is there translated as the more Hobbit-like equivalent 'Stonyford'.

Sarn Ford

The crossing of the Baranduin to the south of the Shire

Notes

See also...

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