Places in Middle-earth
Westfold
Type: Kingdoms, Realms, Lands
Region: Rohan
Location: The geographical region of Rohan on the north slopes of the White Mountains west of the city of Edoras.
Description:
Westfold Region of Rohan, the slopes and fields between Thrihyrne (the peaks above the Hornburg) and Edoras.
Unfinished Tales, Index
The Folde was the centre of the kingdom...; its boundary eastward was roughly a line south-west from the junction of the Snowbourn and Entwash to the mountains; the Eastfold was the land from that line east to the Fenmark1...; the Westfold was the similar land along the mountains as far as the River Isen.
"Guide to the Names in The Lord of the Rings" by J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Christopher Tolkien
from A Tolkien Compass, compiled by Jared Lobdell
Chicago: Open Court Pub Co, June 1975
'See now!' said Gandalf. 'The Westfold dales are opening before us. Here we come back to the eastward road. The dark shadow yonder is the mouth of the Deeping-coomb. That way lies Aglarond and the Glittering Caves.'
The Two Towers, LoTR Book 3, Ch 11, The Palantír
Erkenbrand of Westfold has drawn off those men he could gather towards his fastness in Helm's Deep.
The Two Towers, LoTR Book 3, Ch 7, Helm's Deep
Etymology
This is Old English folde (Old Norse fold) 'earth, land, country', not connected either with the English verb fold, or with (sheep)fold. Compare Vestfold and Østfold in Norway.
"Guide to the Names in The Lord of the Rings" by J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Christopher Tolkien
from A Tolkien Compass, compiled by Jared Lobdell
Chicago: Open Court Pub Co, June 1975
Notes
1 Called Fenmarch in the canon texts.
Contributors: Elena Tiriel 22Dec04, 28Dec04, 30Oct07