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Town · The Shire

Michel Delving

The chief town of the Shire, set on the White Downs where the Mayor holds office

View on map The Shire
Appears in
The Lord of the Rings
Region
The Shire
Michel Delving on the map of Middle-earth

Michel Delving is the Shire's closest thing to a capital, standing on the White Downs in the western half of the Westfarthing. It is the meeting point for the Free Fair on the Lithe days, when the Shire elects its Mayor, and the Mayor of Michel Delving is the only official the hobbits take seriously, largely because the duties are mostly dinners.

The town holds the Mathom-house, where hobbits put objects they have no use for and will not throw away. Bilbo's mail-coat of mithril was kept there after he came back from Erebor, until he took it away again before leaving the Shire.

Under Lotho Sackville-Baggins the storage tunnels at Michel Delving, the Lockholes, were turned into cells. Will Whitfoot, the Mayor, was shut in them for protesting, and Lobelia Sackville-Baggins was jailed there as well. Both were let out when the Shire was scoured in TA 3019, and Frodo served as deputy Mayor until Will had recovered.

Events at this place

  1. TA 2942 · The Lord of the Rings

    Bilbo's mithril coat goes to the Mathom-house

    The mail-shirt Bilbo was given in Erebor was displayed at Michel Delving until he removed it before leaving the Shire.

  2. TA 3018, December 30 · The Lord of the Rings

    The Lockholes filled

    Lotho's Shirriffs imprisoned Mayor Will Whitfoot and other hobbits in the storage tunnels of Michel Delving.

  3. TA 3019, November 4 · The Lord of the Rings

    Prisoners released

    After the Battle of Bywater the Lockholes were opened. Frodo acted as deputy Mayor while Will Whitfoot regained his strength.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Michel Delving on the Middle-earth map?

On the White Downs in the Westfarthing of the Shire, west of Hobbiton and near the line of the Great East Road.

Is Michel Delving the capital of the Shire?

It is the chief town and the Mayor's seat, which is as close to a capital as the Shire has. The Thain and the Master of Buckland held their own separate offices.