The barrow-wights were evil spirits who dwelt in the Barrow-downs. They were sent there by the Witch-King of Angmar during the Great Plague of Gondor, which began in the year SA 1636.

The Barrow-wights were tall, dark figures with cold eyes and a strong grip, as Frodo discovered on his journey to Rivendell. He and his three companions were rescued from the Wights by Tom Bombadil.
Encyclopedia entry originally written by Elioclya