Vardo and Waggon Days

This Wonderfull Orton Waggon Pictured top right ,can be seen at Paultons Park in Hampshire along with many other Wagons and Items of Romany history on display.But what has it got to do with the 1925 movie "Ben Hur" ?

This is one of the finest Reading style waggons in existence today. Owned for the last 32 years by vardo painter John Pockett and now on loan, the waggon is part of Paultons Park's unique vardo collection and Romany theme display of which, Len Smith author of "Romany Nevi Wesh ". Was the cultural consultant .The Orton was built in 1915 for show-madam Tilly Winters, who ran swingboats and coconuts shies at fairgrounds. She paid the princely sum of £850 at a time when a craftsman would earn about £2 per week. More history of this wagon can be seen on the Valley Streams Web page

gypsy wagons.co.uk

 Although people think of Gypsies as travelling in bright and often ornately decorated Waggons in the olden days, it was only from about 1840/50 that more well off of the Romanies started using vardos or waggons. Before that date they mainly travelled on foot and horse with a hand cart or trolley and their bender tents on their back or horse or donkey.Today of course on our busy roads it would be allmost impossible for a large group, or even severalwaggons to travel in safety but its nice to look back at the beautifully decorated Vardos of bygone age. Folk like John Pockett  who is one of the country's leading craftsman in waggon restoring painting and scroll work with over 45 years experience help to keep the memories of that age alive. John is giving a three day course in Wales on Wagon Scrolling and Artwork see details below.

Pistyll Rhaeadr Waggon-Painting Course

Course Dates:

15th, 16th and 17th August 2007

 pictured on the right John's art work

F.G. Huth, writing in the Journal of the Gypsy Lore Society, described five main types of Gypsy and hawkers' living-wagons: the Bow-topped wagon , the Cottage-shaped or Ledge Wagon, the Reading Wagon , the Brush Wagon and the Straight-sided Wagon (or Showman's Wagon). It was probably in the Reading Wagon or the old type of Gypsy vardo, however, that the Gypsy wagon reached its highest and most characteristic form."

However since the statement above was made there is a The sixth type, The Open Lot, was a descendant of a four-wheeled pot cart and didn't arrive until the 1930's. Below Various Pictures of wagons copyright to their various owners unless stated "unknown".

  "Unknown" Brush Wagon

  Lovely model of a Reading style waggon

  Lovely Bow Top pic taken at Stowe

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 link

 "We became captivated with English Gypsy Caravans after seeing a picture of a Reading Van. We have spent 4 years researching caravan construction, materials, layout, decoration, furnishings and finishing's down to the smallest detail. We have researched the type of china gypsy woman collected, we have located a supplier who will be providing carefully chosen pieces to grace the china hutch within each van. The red glass used in the stained glass windows, is obtained from the same factory that created it for the original vans 100 years ago. We have made several trips to England measuring original caravans, spending time with England's finest restorers and builders. We have accumulated many out of print books on caravan construction and restoration. During our travels we have visited every Museum in England that currently have Caravans on display. In our collection, we have over 600 photographs of Caravans, carvings, construction, paint schemes and finish details. Our goal is to create Gypsy Caravans that replicate the details of the original Caravans as closely as possible.

Wally's abilities include carousel horse carving, cabinet making, boat building and extensive woodworking. His history includes education in marine architecture, boat building and later developing a successful yacht restoration business where Victoria assisted with the canvas work and custom yacht upholstery. Victoria's talents include various forms of decorative painting, creating works of art with stained glass as well as developing beautiful decor using silks, satin, velvet and lace such al graced the interiors of the Gypsy Caravans. With our combined skills and talents, we do all of the construction, carving, painting, guilding and interior design of the Caravans.Wally and Victoria Roth" .

 Pictured Below Wally and Victoria at the Gordon Boswell Romany Museum in Spaulding, England and pictures of Wagon's

in various stages of building.