Steble Fountain is a must-see monument for fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s literary work as it features in the new biopic about the author’s life called Tolkien

Tolkien’s books included The Lord of the Rings, which has since become a popular film series

The Grade II listed fountain has undergone a major restoration project to bring it back to its former glory

His written work may have conjured up mythical, magical realms and places almost impossible to imagine, but when it came to telling the life story of J.R.R. Tolkien, Hollywood once more turned its attention to some of the fantastic locations in Merseyside.

The movie Tolkien stars Nicholas Hoult as the titular writer and covers the early part of his career and how it led to his most famous work – The Lord of the Rings. For one particular scene, the production team erected a special piece of set design around Steble Fountain in Liverpool City Centre.

The fountain was surrounded by wooden panels, doorways and lighting for the scene, with actors seen milling around in period dress. The film was directed by Dome Karukoski, whose previous work includes the international festival favourite Tom of Finland, and stars British actress and model Lily Collins (as Tolkien’s future wife Edith Bratt) and Irish actor Colm Meaney.

The shoot followed a restoration project for the Grade II listed fountain that was conducted in 2013, which saw over £13,000 reportedly spent repairing and replacing components to help restore it to its former glory.

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