Hayward Family

A family associated with Buckland, the land of the Brandybucks on the eastern banks of the river Brandywine. The family's name - 'Hay ward' - shows that they had a connection to the High Hay, the great Hedge erected by the Bucklanders along their landward border to protect themselves from the eerie Old Forest beyond.

Only one member of the Hayward family is individually named. This was Hob Hayward, who had formerly watched the Hay Gate that guarded the northern entrance though the Hedge into Buckland. After Lotho Sackville-Baggins took over the Shire, Hob Hayward was pressed into service guarding the new gates that were raised on the Brandywine Bridge. It was there that he was found and recognised by Merry Brandybuck as the Travellers returned to the Shire.

Hob was heard to complain about the Shire's new regime, and helped Merry and the Travellers in small ways as they entered re-entered their homeland. We are not told of his fate, or that of his family, after the Shire-hobbits reclaimed their land, but perhaps he returned to his accustomed duty of warding the Hay - that is, guarding the North-gate of Buckland's High Hay.