I bought the car in the early 1960s. In the 1970s I was at an auto jumble in Hartlepool. Here I met the owner of  another Carden Cycle Car. His car had many parts missing. I offered  the man templates of anything that was missing on his car. Time passed. Seventeen years later I got in touch and asked about the documents to the Durham car. That’s how the documents relating to my car came into my possession.

                                                       6.may.1965

Dear Mr.Carden

       Your letter of Saturday last-which has been passed on to me by Col. Hutchinson-in which you kindly make reference to the “ derelict Carden Cycle Car” which was until recently “ housed” in the garden shed at Bell’s Folly, has given me good cause for gratitude : the reason for this being that for sentimental reasons I have brought the car over here where it now stands in my garage.

 I should explain that this was my first “four-wheeler” (I had previously driven my father’s cars) purchased in 1921 and my wife and I had up wards of 1000 very pleasant running. But owing to some law-possibly “local” – with regard to the necessity of 4 wheel self-propelled vehicles having to be fitted with a reverse gear we placed the car in the garage where, except for short runs round our own grounds, it has remained.

 Unfortunately, on moving to Durham seventeen years ago, I found my self with no room to spare in the garage, so housed the Carden in the tool shed, (at Bell's Folly) where since Col. Hutchinson’s purchase of the property he has kindly allowed it to remain until recently. But during a gale last winter part of the shed collapsed doing considerable damage to the car and rendering it- as you rightly say- “derelict”. Never the less, for sentimental reasons, I have entertained hopes of re-fitting it ( the engine being in good order) for use in the for use in the garden and field. When this is done I should like you to see it.

I am wondering whether Capt. Carden with whom I had a very pleasant association at the time of acquiring the car is any relative of your own; your name at once occurred to me as some possible family connection. If so, I should like to pay tribute to his delightful personality and, too, to his innovative genius: he was certainly ahead of his time, as the principles incorporated in his little car have been employed in cars of most recent design.

 Please forgive me for having delayed the completion  of my letter. This has been due to my search for papers relating to the purchase of the car which I knew where amongst the “archives” of my household but which have been submerged in the process of moving to our present abode. They have now, however been found and I enclose them with my letter as I feel sure they will be of some interest to you. They can be retained, or returned at your convenience after perusal.

 Should you find your self in or near our ancient City of Durham at any time I shall be pleased to see you though I am afraid you will be disappointed when you see the present state of the car- I wish that it could have been better preserved

                                Yours sincerely,

                                     J.Arthur Rodwell.                                  

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