ReadFest 2026: Writing Poetry with Tour of Barking Abbey Ruins

11 September 2026

Creative workshop with Eithne Cullen exploring identity, visual prompts, a local walk and shared writing exercises for creative expression.

Poet and author Eithne Cullen leads a creative poetry workshop welcoming both beginners and experienced writers. Over the course of the day there will be many opportunities for writing; in poetry or prose.

Participants will need to bring pen and paper, comfortable shoes, comfortable clothing (loose if it’s warm, layers if it’s cool) and a bottle of water. You can also bring a light lunch, or there is a cafe available on site.

Session breakdown:

Part 1: Ice breakers. Some writing exercises about noticing, being in the moment.

Pare 2: Reading and writing around the theme of Identity.

Part 3: Writing activities around visual prompts.

Part 4: A break for lunch, followed by a walk from Barking Learning Centre (writers encouraged to mix, chat, socialise) to look at and write about the Town hall, folly wall near the Town Hall, the market, Barking Abbey Ruins.

Part 5: Return to BLC to have an hour of writing about what we’ve observed, share and workshop our pieces.

If you have any accessibility requirements, please directly get in touch with us at pentoprint@lbbd.gov.uk

Booking is essential and you will be asked to present your booking confirmation upon arrival.

Pen to Print and our partners reserve the right to remove participants who are disruptive to a session.

NB: May feature content that some people may find upsetting, uses language or depicts scenes reflecting attitudes that are no longer seen as acceptable.

Pen to Print shall not be liable to attendees for any injury, loss or damage of or to personal equipment belonging to the attendees or any indirect or consequential loss or damage whatsoever arising out of the attendance of the event

Pen to Print reserves the right to cancel, delay or postpone the event for any reason, including adverse weather conditions, an emergency situation or unforeseen or unavoidable circumstances out of its reasonable control. In such cases, the event organiser will endeavour to inform participants as quickly as is possible.

Barking and Dagenham Libraries and Pen to Print are proud to present the fifteenth annual literary festival, running from Saturday 12 September to Saturday 19 September.

This year’s festival offers a vibrant mix of in‑person, online and hybrid events, celebrating the power of storytelling and the joy of reading, as part of our contribution to the National Year of Reading.

This festival is proudly supported by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and Arts Council England, funded by the UK Government.

The National Year of Reading 2026 is a UK-wide campaign designed to inspire people to make reading a regular part of their lives.

We all understand the benefits of reading and how it expands our minds, builds confidence and fuels creativity, yet fewer people are doing it. With growing distractions and limited time, reading for pleasure is declining across many groups.

This national campaign aims to change this by reconnecting reading with everyday culture. It is not about guilt or obligation, it is about showing that stories, ideas and imagination have a place in everyone’s daily life. Click here to find out more!