It’s here!
I’m very proud to announce that my book ‘Forgotten Fen’ was published yesterday by The Medlar Press. John Richardson has illustrated throughout, to an exceptional standard.
The book is about a beautiful, lost corner of England. We hope you enjoy reading it.
To order, please visit The Medlar Press by clicking the link below:
https://www.medlarpress.com/bookstore/?store-page=Forgotten-Fen-p648830566
Forgotten Fen Gareth Craddock
Illustrated by John Richardson
Centuries ago, a giant fenland existed near the Kentish coastline. An unnamed Prince, or ‘Pengel’, ruled over these peaty reaches; his death heralded their demise and they exist today as an incognito cousin to their better-known Norfolk neighbours. Situated in old mining country, this Forgotten Fen represents a lost paradise for anglers, wilders and ghost hunters.
One winter, Gareth Craddock visits his grandfather’s former colliery on the old fen system and wanders the ancient drovers’ paths. He discovers one of Kent’s best kept secrets: a beautiful, abandoned marshland fed by a lost stream. Amongst the detritus of the old mining industry, there are wild waters ruled by marsh harriers and large, exquisitely marked pike. In warmer months, Gareth hunts a ten-pound tench to the chorus of a thousand marsh frogs. Walking further, an older England emerges, home to owls, beavers and the restless spirit of a long-dead fen walker . . .
John Richardson is celebrated for his linocuts of the English fens and his wonderful prints are a companion throughout this story. His artwork haunts these pages, as it will haunt the reader thereafter.
See more of John Richardson’s work on his own site by clicking here
Postcards from the English Outback 
wonderful news Gareth! I’ve ordered three copies, two being Christmas presents for dear friends. I’m sure it’ll be a fabulous read…
speak soon, all the best
Rob
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello Rob- That’s smashing!
How lovely to read this. I do hope you enjoy the book, and I’m quietly confident that you will.
Naturally, I’m perhaps a little biased- but it does make a particularly nice gift. It’s just so beautiful to look at.
You must let me know what you think of it.
Best Wishes and Speak Soon- God Bless, Gazza
LikeLike
Morning Gareth,Received my copies of the book yesterday afterno
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good Afternoon, John… We did it!
I’m over the moon with the finished product. Your illustration is pure class, JR.
Love to you and Sue, Gazza
LikeLike
Congratulations!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Linda!
LikeLike
Brilliant book Gareth. It was on my Christmas list and I’ve read it twice already since Christmas Day.
I used to live in Worth, very close to Ham Fen, and spent many evenings wandering around the same marshes in the early 2000’s fishing and spotting the wild carp, tench, pike, eels and birds you have described so well. I had less success fishing, but I’m sure equal enjoyment.
I too have bumped into Dylan in the middle of nowhere. This was on the RMC last year and he suggested I should read your blog which I have enjoyed too.
Figuring out the fishing spots you have named in the blog and book led me to dig out my own old battered OS map of the area and start to plan some fishing and wandering trips again across the Fen.
look forward to more blogs.
Rob
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello Rob,
What a lovely message!- Thank you very much.
Worth, you say? Well- you’ll know the territory well. Not far from Pinnock Wall, there’s a very special mark. It’s hands down the finest tench stretch in England. In midsummer, there are few places I’d rather be, yet time limits me these days. Well, time is one factor… The other factors are work… And bass! It’s hard to teach properly, whilst hunting both wild tench AND bass. But believe me, I’d like to.
Dylan! He’s a good friend of mine- and a valued mentor. Dylan is a legend and I’m glad you’ve met him. That first time I saw him was like a Kentish western. I thought ‘Who’s this then? All the way out here?!’- Dylan no doubt thought the same, and there was a little bit of sizing up… Then we made friends on the spot! We met for a pint just recently.
I wish you all the best, Rob- I’d very much like for somebody to catch that Queen Tinca that I lost.
God Bless and do please stay in touch- Gazza Craddock
LikeLike
Hi Gareth – just to say that I really enjoyed reading ‘Forgotten Fen’ over the holidays – very beautifully done, captures that slightly weird sense that you get from time to time (well, maybe some of us get…) when wandering or sitting out on marshland. I do my fishing over this side of Kent on the Rother and the drains or on Romney Marsh for the beautiful tench (the most beautiful I have seen anywhere, I won’t hear otherwise!) and pike we get here – the loneliness, the birdlife, the weather and the odd eccentric you do meet in the middle of nowhere sound about the same… So, hope it is the first of many volumes and my thanks for it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello Matt,
That’s lovely feedback- Thank you very much indeed, and I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
Romney Marsh?- Wow- What a place. We have much in common. I’m glad you mentioned the tench… Lowland pike are so wonderfully marked. And the birdlife is incredible. But the tench are the most compelling- and eeriest- inhabitants of all the marsh. Even more so than the ghosts.
I’m bassing more now in the summers, out on the coast. But every solstice, a part of me wails to go tenching again out on the Gutter. Then I remember the larger tench I was unable to catch; the ‘Queen’ class. In fact, come mid-June and opening day, it’s hard to think of much else…
Thanks again for the very kind comment- Gareth Craddock
LikeLike