JRR Tolkein’s old home in Oxford is listed by heritage minister Andrew McIntosh.

Heritage Minister Andrew McIntosh has announced that the suburban Oxfordshire house where JRR Tolkien wrote The Hobbit, and most of the Lord of The Rings trilogy, is to be a Grade II listed building. The decision was made on the basis of Tolkien’s importance, rather than on architectural merit.

20 Northmoor Rd in Oxford was built for bookshop owner Basil Blackwell in 1924. Tolkien lived there from 1930 to 1947. McIntosh said: "Buildings are usually listed because of their fine architecture or unique design. But we can also give protection to buildings that have historical association with nationally important people or events. Professor Tolkien's house is a fine example of this."

The eight-bedroom house was bought by a private buyer in September for more than £1.5 million.