Places in Middle-earth
Lockholes, The
Type: Buildings, Halls, Houses
Region: Bree/The Shire
Location: Old storage tunnels in the town of Michel Delving in the Westfarthing; converted by the ruffians into a jail during the occupation of the Shire.
Description: [Said Farmer Cotton,] 'There's a good few [ruffians] down south in Longbottom and by Sarn Ford, I hear.... And then there's the Lockholes, as they call 'em: the old storage-tunnels at Michel Delving that they've made into prisons for those as stand up to them.'
The Return of the King, LoTR Book 6, Ch 8, The Scouring of the Shire
[Said] Robin lowering his voice. '... it's these Men, Sam, the Chief's Men. He sends them round everywhere, and if any of us small folk stand up for our rights, they drag him off to the Lockholes. They took old Flourdumpling, old Will Whitfoot the Mayor, first, and they've taken a lot more. Lately it's been getting worse. Often they beat 'em now.'
The Return of the King, LoTR Book 6, Ch 8, The Scouring of the Shire
The day after the battle Frodo rode to Michel Delving and released the prisoners from the Lockholes.
The Return of the King, LoTR Book 6, Ch 9, The Grey Havens
Great stores of goods and food, and beer, were found that had been hidden away by the ruffians in sheds and barns and deserted holes, and especially in the tunnels at Michel Delving and in the old quarries at Scary; so that there was a great deal better cheer that Yule than anyone had hoped for.
The Return of the King, LoTR Book 6, Ch 9, The Grey Havens
Contributors: Elena Tiriel 1Dec05