The Lord of the Rings · Character
Hob Hayward
Also known as old Hob
- Minor
- First seen · Book 3 · Ch. 18
Old Hob Hayward has the unshowy presence of someone who has spent years watching a road and minding a gate. His official uniform sits at the threshold between ordinary Shire life and the uneasy world beyond it.
- Gender
- male
- Age
- elderly
- First appears
- Book 3 · Ch. 18
- Books
- 1
Hob Hayward is an elderly hobbit who serves as a guard at the gate of the Brandywine Bridge, wearing the uniform of the Chief’s gate-keepers. He is a brief, grounded presence in the account of the Shire, with no further personal history given.
Description
Hob Hayward is an elderly male hobbit, but the text does not specify his height, build, complexion, hair, eyes, or facial features. He wears the uniform of the Chief’s gate-keepers while guarding the Brandywine Bridge. His age and official clothing are the only concrete visual details provided.
Connections
Family & partnersFriends & mentorsRivals

Meriadoc Brandybuckacquaintance
Merry recognizes Hob, a former gatekeeper, and invokes their familiarity while demanding entry to the Shire.
Story so far
BOOK 3The Return of the King: Being the Third Part of the Lord of the Rings
Appearances
Meet Hob Hayward in Bookworm
Meet Hob Hayward in your EPUB — spoiler-safe to the book you're on.
