Soon they struck a narrow road, that went rolling up and down, fading grey into the darkness ahead: the road to Woodhall, and Stock, and the Bucklebury Ferry. It climbed away from the main road in the Water-valley, and wound over the skirts of the Green Hills towards Woody End, a wild corner of the Eastfarthing.
– The Fellowship of the Ring (Book 1), Chapter 3
The Eastfarthing is a well-inhabited region of the Shire. Occupying the west bank of the Brandywine River, it is home to many Hobbits, and features various areas within itself, including Woody End, the Marish and the Hills of Scary. Whilst the Eastfarthing is technically the easternmost part of the Shire, Hobbits also dwell on the opposite bank of the Brandywine, in Buckland.
History
The Eastfarthing was once a part of a hunting ground of the King of Arnor, and later Arthedain. Long deserted during the waning of the Northern Kingdom, it was granted to the Hobbits in the year T.A. 1601, along with the rest of the Shire. Thirty years later, Stoors migrating from Dunland entered the Eastfarthing, with many settling there. Even in the late Third Age, many Hobbits in the Eastfarthing have Stoorish traits. In T.A. 2340, a group of Hobbits from the Marish led by Gorhendad Oldbuck crossed the Brandywine, and settled Buckland on the bank opposite the Eastfarthing. The family renamed themselves to ‘Brandybuck’, and their authority was acknowledged by some on the eastern borders of the Eastfarthing. In T.A. 2911, the Shire, and presumably the Eastfarthing, was invaded by white wolves during the Fell Winter, in which the Brandywine froze over.
Geography
The Eastfarthing is one of the more populated farthings of the Shire, as well as one of the largest. It borders all three other farthings, with its westernmost point at the Three-Farthing Stone. Part of its border with the Southfarthing follows the River Shirebourn, until the southern frontier of the Shire, after which it reaches the Overbourn Marshes and the River Brandywine. The eastern border entirely comprises the Brandywine River, though the Eastfarthing does include Girdley Island. In the north and west, the border with the Northfarthing gently curves south-west, not following any particular feature of the terrain, until it reaches the southernmost point of the Northfarthing near Bywater, after which it runs straight south to the Stone once more.
The Eastfarthing also has many regions and geographical features within itself; to the north, the Hills of Scary, around which the settlements of Scary, Brockenborings and Dwaling can be found. Here, much of the stone used in the Shire is mined, and old abandoned mines are used as storage. Along the Water, which flows west to east across the farthing, are Bridgefields (Home to Fatty Bolger) and the Yale, two regions used for farming. Opposite to Buckland is an area of wetland known as the Marish, through which the Stockbrook finds its course to the Brandywine at Stock, where the Golden Perch Inn is known for its fine beer. One such inhabitant of the Marish is Farmer Maggot, who lives at Bamfurlong and farms, among other things, mushrooms. On the west side of the Marish, the trees of the Woody End mark the eastern terminus of the Green Hill Country, which stretches into Tookland in the Westfarthing. In these woods Elves often wander on their pilgrimages to the Elostirion or the Grey Havens. The village of Woodhall can be found in the eastern eaves of these woods.
The Great Road bisects the Eastfarthing, running from the Brandywine Bridge to the Westfarthing. Along this road, travellers are most often seen, usually Dwarves from the Blue Mountains or Men or Hobbits from Bree, briefly visiting the Shire. Branching off the Road just past the Bridge, the Causeway is a raised roadway stretching southwards to the village of Deephallow. Around halfway along its length, the Ferry Road leads to the Bucklebury Ferry, which connects the Eastfarthing to Brandy Hall via boat.
Climate
The climate of the Eastfarthing is generally temperate, and snow is rare. Fog often lies over the Marish.
Culture
The majority of the Hobbits in the Eastfarthing are still Stoors, and more comfortable around water. Most Hobbits live in houses, especially around the Marish, due to the terrain, and some even wore shoes. Furthermore, Eastfarthing Hobbits sometimes wore beards, and used different names for months than those used elsewhere in the Shire; for this reason, they may be considered queer by Hobbits from other parts of the Shire. In general however, the Eastfarthing is culturally hobbitish, with plenty of eating and drinking, and a general lack of ambition.
Governance
As with the rest of the Shire, the Hobbits of the Eastfarthing still consider themselves subjects of the King of Arthedain. They are technically ruled over by a Thain in place of the King, though the role has no real political power and is ceremonial. Some of the Hobbits of the Marish (especially those living between Stock and Rushey), however, acknowledge the Master of the Hall in Buckland as an authority, as opposed to the Thain. The Messenger Service and the Bounders both serve the Hobbits of the Eastfarthing . The Eastfarthing has three Shirriffs, charged with keeping the peace and protecting the borders, though unbeknownst to the Hobbits, it is the Rangers of the North who do most of the work.
Economy
The economy of the Eastfarthing likely revolves around farming. Within settlements, there are more complex professions, such as bakers and innkeepers, but it is also likely that specific villages have their own trademark jobs, such as mining around the Hills of Scary.
