The Northern Fells

The Northern Fells was published in April 1962 and was dedicated to:

“Those who travel alone THE SOLITARY WANDERERS ON THE FELLS who find contentment in the companionship of the mountains and of the creatures of the mountains”

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Book Five was a big seller because Keswick was a popular holiday destination, and most routes were based on Keswick and its buses. This new guide features Skiddaw, the “affable and friendly giant”. Its neighbour, Blencathra, has 36 pages—more than any other mountain, even Scafell Pike.

The better-known fells were overcrowded during this period, and the northern region was relatively untouched. If you wanted solitude, this was the place to go. Wainwright wasn’t familiar with this area until he mapped it, and he rarely saw anyone during his time on the fells. This region may not have the same grandeur as the more southerly areas, but Skiddaw and Blencathra raise the profile of this region and make it one of the finest in the district.

Several fells featured in this guide have raised questions. Why did Wainwright include Mungrisdale Common? Some say the Skiddaw section contained too much padding. Maybe. Wainwright’s initial fell count for this region was less than 24. It has been the centre of debate for some time, and no doubt people will theorise how Wainwright devised this guide for years to come.

The Northern Fells was the final guide in the series published by Henry Marshall. By 1963, guidebook sales had exceeded expectations, and Henry took care of all invoicing and distribution. Sales continued to increase, and Wainwright decided to transfer all publishing rights to the Westmorland Gazette. He sold all remaining books to them for £753. The Gazette then placed a sticker over Henry Marshall’s name in every book.

**The *Westmorland Gazette* covered **Henry Marshall’s name** in 1963**

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A First Edition is identified by:

Maroon case with round corners and silver blocking
12/6 price on the dust jacket
No impression number
Book Six listed as – in preparation

***In preparation* helps identify a *First Edition***

History proved The Northern Fells to be a success. It sold roughly the same as The North Western Fells during the Gazette years. It’s unfair to compare it with the earlier guides as they were more established. The Northern Fells outsold The Far Eastern Fells, a considerable achievement.

*The Northern Fells* – *First Edition* with a maroon case and silver blocking

The Northern Fells Original Negatives — **A sample of the original *The Northern Fells* printing negatives**

*The Northern Fells* prices between 1962 and 1980

The Northern Fells Dust Jacket Negative — ***Westmorland*** ***Gazette*** dust jacket negative from the 1970s

The Northern Fells Dust Jacket Negative 2 — ***Westmorland*** ***Gazette*** dust jacket negative from the 1980s

***Westmorland*** ***Gazette*** dust jacket positive from the 1980s

By the mid-1960s, all guides retailed at 15/-; the first decimalisation price after 1971 was 90p.

**A *First Edition* and a late 1960s impression**

**A master binding copy from the 1970s (to ensure the sections were collated correctly**)

The guides went through several changes throughout the 1970s. Some of the same impressions used multiple case types. More coloured cases have been found, including a red leopard skin type rexine featured on a limited number of The Central Fells guides. I was surprised to find the exact case type on The Northern Fells. How many more guides used it? It’s hard to say, but it was only used briefly when no alternative material was available.

**Occasionally, some case types were in short supply, and alternatives were used**

Most readers purchased a single set of guides, and that was it. They wouldn’t be aware nor care about the different versions available throughout the decade. In 1979, we would also say goodbye to the gold blocking on the front of all cases. Production costs increased, so removing it saved time and money. The case types throughout the 1980s were very bland and uninspiring. There were only three different case types throughout the whole decade.

**The *Westmorland Gazette* 1975 book list**

**Various** *Westmorland Gazette* price lists

The Gazette’s General Printing and Book Publishing Manager, Andrew Nichol, retired early in 1992 and appointed Michael Joseph as the new publisher. Andrew changed the course of history for the books. If he had not retired early, the Gazette would have continued publishing the books throughout the 1990s.

Titus Wilson held the Gazette’s guidebook negatives, used to print Michael Joseph’s 1992 new launch. The print quality was now on par with the original guides. Clays Ltd, Bungay printed the guides from 1993, the first time Wainwright’s famous guides left Kendal. Andrew gave Michael Joseph a duplicate set of negatives, and Titus Wilson retained the originals.

*The Northern Fells* Prelims were produced for Michael Joseph by Chris Jesty

**Michael Joseph’s dust jacket artwork from 1992**

**Michael Joseph’s publications from 1992**

**Michael Joseph’s 1992 launch documentation**

Michael Joseph’s **final Titus Wilson** **order**

In 2001, sales saw a decline, and two years later, Michael Joseph officially ceased publication of the guides. Several publishers showed interest, but Frances Lincoln won the bid and were announced as the new publisher in February 2003. The guides returned home to Kendal for the first time in years, and the new launch was in April 2003. The latest guides were reproduced from the original Gazette negatives in storage for over ten years. The Northern Fells guide proved popular and reached its second impression within a year.

**Two impressions of *The Northern Fells* from Frances Lincoln 2003**

**Frances Lincoln’s** dust jacket (formerly Michael Joseph’s) negative from 2003

In 2004, the Managing Director of Frances Lincoln, John Nicholl, was aware that the 50th anniversary of The Eastern Fells was looming. New guides would mark the occasion, so Frances Lincoln produced new scans from Wainwright’s original pages. The new 50th Anniversary Editions were published in March 2005. Gold blocking on the front of the guides would see a return for the first time in twenty-five years. Limited Edition Leather-Bound box sets were also produced and retailed at £250.

From left to right:
The Northern Fells – 50th Anniversary Edition, Frances Lincoln 2005
The Northern Fells – 50th Anniversary Limited Edition Leather-Bound, Frances Lincoln 2005

**The gold blocking would return for the first time in twenty-five years**

**The *50th Anniversary Edition* price increased** **in 2006**

**The *50th Anniversary Edition* positives**

**The *50th Anniversary Edition* printed sheets**

**Frances Lincoln’s** dust jacket positive from 2005

Frances Lincoln’s **final Titus Wilson** **order**

Rising production costs forced the books out of Kendal again. Titus Wilson could no longer print them and make a profit. From 2006, the books were printed in various locations worldwide until they settled in China.

**The *50th Anniversary Editions* were printed in various locations worldwide: Italy, Singapore, Thailand and China**

In June 2023, the 50th Anniversary Editions were made available as paperbacks for the first time. They are only available as a box set. See the Wainwright Box Set Collection for details.

The Northern Fells Paperback — ***The Northern Fells – 50th Anniversary*** **Edition** **paperback**

Frances Lincoln faced another problem. The original guides were outdated and could not be relied upon to keep people safe on the fells. Keeping Wainwright’s original ‘works of art’ in print was still a priority, so a project to revise the guides was underway. Chris Jesty took on the task that would consume his life’s next ten years. He had already made minor revisions to the guides in the past, so he was perfect for the job. The Northern Fells – Second Edition was published in 2008. Additional amendments were made in 2009. The same year, Frances Lincoln issued a cloth-bound ten-guide box set based on the 50th Anniversary Editions.

Quarto bought Frances Lincoln in 2011, and after a few years, their name would appear in the guides as publisher. A couple of the Second Edition guides were printed by Quarto much later, The Northern Fells and The Western Fells. A £14.99 price tag identifies the later prints. The earlier guides were £12.99 and £13.99, respectively.

From left to right:
The Northern Fells – Second Edition, Frances Lincoln 2008
The Northern Fells – Second Edition revised, Frances Lincoln 2009
The Northern Fells – Second Edition revised (later print), Frances Lincoln 2009
The Northern Fells – Second Edition revised (later print), Frances Lincoln 2009
The Northern Fells – 50th Anniversary Edition ’enlarged type’ (low gsm paper), Frances Lincoln 2009
The Northern Fells – 50th Anniversary Edition ’enlarged type’ (high gsm paper), Frances Lincoln 2009

By 2014, nearly ten years had passed since Chris Jesty began revising the guides, and some of his earlier revisions were outdated. Clive Hutchby succeeded Chris, and with help from other people, he began revising the guides from scratch. The Northern Fells – Walkers Edition was published as a flexibound guide in 2018. Eventually, both Readers and Walkers Editions were printed as paperbacks.

From left to right:
The Northern Fells – Readers Edition hardback, Frances Lincoln 2018
The Northern Fells – Readers Edition paperback, Frances Lincoln 2021
The Northern Fells – Walkers Edition flexibound, Frances Lincoln 2018
The Northern Fells – Walkers Edition paperback, Frances Lincoln 2020