Narnia, Middle Earth and Malvern

Discover how authors CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien found inspiration in Worcestershire, from walking the hills together to finding new technologies.

Studying at Malvern College, CS Lewis developed a fascination with the countryside, with pictures of the gas lamps in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe authorised to accompany his text bearing a remarkable similarity to those in Malvern.

Dan Johnson regularly leads walks across the hills whilst sharing tales of the time both men spent in the town. He says a heavy wooden door at Malvern Priory is said to heavily resemble the creaky door of the wardrobe from Lewis' text.

Lewis taught a boy called George Sayer at Oxford. Sayer would often go for walks around the hills with his mentor, often bringing his friend, John Tolkien, drawn by the views, fresh air and the spring water. It is said looking at Wales from the Worcestershire Beacon resemble the protagonists of The Lord of the Rings staring towards Mordor.

Dan shares how Lewis and Tolkien had opposite philosophies when it came to many aspects of life, from writing to world-building and simply going for a walk - but both found a fascination with Malvern.

Presenter: Stewart Kingscott
Reporter: Bethany Gwilliam

Image credit: BBC Weather Watchers/Tarquin Shaw-Young