Caravan Crafting: A Traveller's Past

Traveller caravans, or vardos, have been used by Romani people in Britain for over 600 years. The first Romani caravans were wooden, horse-drawn covered wagons used in the 1830s during the reign of King William IV. By the 1890s, Romani caravans had developed their own distinct and functional character. At this time, Romanies were the greatest users of mobile homes, a trend which continued for 60 years. The decline in the use of caravans began in the mid-20th century when younger Travellers began using motorised vehicles and permanent sites began to appear across the country.

Romani people and showmen in Britain used horse-drawn caravans

The Romani people and showmen in Britain used horse-drawn caravans, known as "vardos", as mobile homes as they travelled across Europe. The Romani were performers, while the Pavees (Irish nomadic people) were travellers. The Romani caravans were pulled by a single horse in shafts, with a potential second horse hitched to the right of the first to help with heavier loads. The caravans were intricately decorated, with bright colours, gilding, and intricate carvings. They were also highly practical, with a chimney, a small cast-iron stove, bunks, a chest of drawers, and a glass-fronted china cabinet.

The heyday of the Romani caravan lasted for around 70 years, from the mid-19th century to the first two decades of the 20th century. The small-scale, pre-industrial methods of the builders meant that a family's caravan could take up to a year to build. The Romani would often commission a new caravan to celebrate a marriage, and the caravans were sometimes burned after the owner's death.

The Romani caravans were typically one of six types: Brush, Burton, Bow Top, Open Lot, Ledge, and Reading. The Brush wagon was a standard type, known for its half-door with glazed shutters and lack of a skylight. The Burton wagon was the oldest type of living wagon in Britain, though its smaller wheels made mobility difficult. The Bow Top and Open Lot were similar, with the former known for its curved design and camouflage decoration, and the latter for its curtain-covered entrance. The Ledge wagon was cottage-shaped, providing more living space, and the Reading wagon was synonymous with Romani horse travel, with straight sides that slope outward.

The Romani caravans were an evolution of the living wagons used by non-Romani circus troupes in France in 1810. By the mid-19th century, the Romani in Britain had started using wagons that incorporated living spaces, adding their own characteristic style of decoration.

The first leisure trailer was built by Bristol Wagon & Carriage Works

The world's first leisure trailer was built by the Bristol Wagon & Carriage Works in 1880. The Bristol Wagon & Carriage Works was a manufacturer of railway carriages and wagons, agricultural machinery, and stationary engines, based in Bristol. In 1851, Albert Fry and John Fowler acquired Stratton & Hughes, a coach-building firm. In 1855, Fowler moved to Leeds to establish his own manufacturing company, and Albert's brother Thomas joined the firm, which traded as A&T Fry until 1866, when Thomas was elected as an MP.

Albert Fry renamed the company the Bristol Wagon and Carriage Works Ltd in 1866, and the company moved to a new factory on 13 acres at Lawrence Hill. The factory had extensive engineering facilities, including foundries for iron and brass, carpentry and coach painting, and supplied rolling stock to railways around the world. By 1883, the company's Lawrence Hill works employed over 900 people.

The first leisure trailer was an 18-foot (5.5 m) design, based on their Bible Wagons, used by travelling preachers in America's Wild West. It was built for William Gordon Stables, a popular author of teenage adventure fiction, who ordered a "gentleman's caravan". Stables named the trailer Wanderer, travelled around the British countryside in it, and later wrote a book documenting his travels in 1885 called The Gentleman Gypsy. This inspired the Duke of Newcastle to commission his own caravan, which he named The Bohemian.

By the turn of the century, caravanning for leisure had become an increasingly popular activity. In 1901, the first dedicated caravanning club was established. The Camping and Caravanning Club (originally the Association of Cycle Campers) was founded by Thomas Hiram Holding, the father of modern camping. The Caravan Club was founded in 1907 with Stables as its vice president. Its stated aim was to "... bring together those interested in van life as a pastime ... to improve and supply suitable vans and other appliances ... and to arrange camping grounds".

Caravanning clubs were established in the early 20th century

The popularity of caravanning continued to grow after World War I, with the government endorsing camping as a way to improve citizens' physical, moral, and spiritual health. This led to a boom in camping holidays in the countryside.

In 1907, the Caravan Club was founded with William Gordon Stables, the author of teenage adventure fiction and owner of the world's first leisure trailer, as its vice president. The club's stated aim was to ".. .bring together those interested in van life as a pastime... to improve and supply suitable vans and other appliances... and to arrange camping grounds."

By the 1920s, caravanning for leisure had become an increasingly popular activity, with clubs offering exclusive campsites, preferential rates, advice, insurance, and community activities including regional and national rallies.

Today, the Caravan and Motorhome Club, formerly known as the Caravan Club, is Europe's biggest touring community, providing access to over 3000 locations in the UK and Europe for caravanners, motorhomers, and campers.

Romani caravans were a means of transport and later became homes

The Romani, or Roma, people are believed to have originated from northwestern India some 1,500 years ago. They have since settled in different parts of the world, but mostly in Europe and Mid-West Asia, and in the last hundred years or so, the Romani people have also spread to the Americas.

The Romani wagons, known as "vardos", are four-wheeled, horse-drawn vehicles traditionally used as homes by Romani travellers. The name "vardo" is a Romani term believed to have originated from the Ossetic word "wærdon", meaning "cart" or "carriage". The heyday of the caravan lasted for roughly 70 years, from the mid-19th century through the first two decades of the 20th century.

The evolution of the Romani caravans can be traced back to the travelling showmen who spent most of their lives on the road. Instead of pitching a tent wherever they went, they had horse-drawn wagons where they cooked, ate, and slept. Around the middle of the 19th century, these caravans were adopted as living quarters by the Romani people.

Initially, the Romani people lived in tents or slept in carts or afoot. However, as the vardo evolved, it became a more practical option for living and travelling. A typical Romani caravan was a four-wheel chassis with a standard construction: on the right, a mirror and stove, opposite the dresser, and directly next to the bed. The caravans were built from wood, including oak, pine, walnut, and ash, and the building process could take anywhere from 6 to 12 months.

The Romani caravans were not only a means of transport but also a form of self-expression. They were often highly decorated, intricately carved, and brightly painted, sometimes even gilded. The extent and elaborateness of the decorations reflected the wealth of the family, and certain designs became associated with specific makers. The Romani took great pride in their vardos, and they were considered a high cultural point of both artistic design and woodcraft.

While the Romani caravans were once a common sight, today only a handful of original vardos remain, mostly in museums or private collections. The economics of Romani life and the social upheavals of the early 20th century, including the First World War, contributed to the decline of the traditional horse-drawn caravans. By 1940, it was estimated that only about 1% of Romani travellers still lived in the traditional horse-drawn vardo.

The caravan was a symbol of wealth and status

Caravans have historically been used for trade and transportation, especially in desert areas and along the Silk Road. They were groups of merchants, pilgrims, or travellers who journeyed together, often carrying luxurious and valuable goods such as silks, jewellery, spices, textiles, precious metals, and other luxury items. The ability to own and operate a caravan was a symbol of wealth and status.

The origins of caravans can be traced back to the travelling Romani people and showmen who spent most of their lives in horse-drawn caravans. In the late 19th century, more Romani people began to live in their caravans instead of sleeping in tents, as they offered greater protection from the weather and could be outfitted with modern amenities. Caravans were also commissioned for newlywed couples and their families, taking up to a year to build.

In biblical times, camels were seen as symbols of wealth, endurance, and social standing. They played a crucial role in ancient trade routes, connecting different regions and facilitating the exchange of goods, ideas, and cultures. The control and management of camel caravans brought immense wealth to those who organised and participated in the trade. This wealth allowed individuals and societies to flourish, creating opportunities for growth and development.

The size of a caravan was dependent on the amount of traffic, the insecurity of the route, and the availability of camels. The largest recorded caravans were those for special purposes, such as Muslim pilgrim caravans, which could include over 10,000 camels. Caravans were also a target for bandits due to the valuable goods they carried.

Caravans were also a form of mutual protection for travellers in hostile regions. In the deserts of Asia and Northern Africa, camels were commonly used in caravans due to their ability to go for several days without water and their loading capacity. The camel's endurance and ability to withstand harsh conditions made them a fitting symbol of resilience and strength.

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