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This site is great and is run by my mate Ken here is his introduction in his own words !!

"I started this website as there was no information anywhere that I could find anyway, dealing with Travellers old style trailers. Also known as 'showmans' they are not to be confused with the huge ungainly caravans built for circus people and showkeepers, they were known as 'showmans' because that was how the builders described them. Most people, even non Travellers, are familiar with the horse drawn waggons or 'Gypsy caravan' and ironically information about them and the notable builders is well documented and yet very few, other than middle aged or older Travellers have any recollection of 'flash' trailers or the men who built them.

The 1950's and early 60's saw the greatest change in the lifestye of Travellers ever as the majority gave up their horses and waggons in favour of motors and trailers. Of course there had been more affluent 'go ahead'

Gypsy people who had taken to motorisation much earlier but they were a very small minority. For the majority of Travellers the first trailers they obtained were second hand gorgio (non-Gypsy) 'tourers'. With hard work, determination and luck, most Travellers rapidly improved their trailers and in the early years a few caravan makes became popular but none were specifically built for Travellers other than 'Eccles' who had been building

'specials' for many years. A few manufacturers finally realised that there was a market to be tapped and vans were built to suit Travellers tastes and requirements. It was these first builders that deserve to be remembered

just as much as the Duntons, Wrights, Tongs etc. of 'waggon times'.

By the 1970's, which decade was the one of the 'ultra flash' trailers, there were a handful of builders catering exclusively for Travelling people offering vans from the 'basic' to the splendid chrome encrusted and cut glass masterpieces, each one hand built by master craftsmen and staggeringly expensive. These latter trailers were literally palaces on wheels, filled with expensive china, crystal and silver, proclaiming clearly a mans success and wealth.................everyones trailer was 'the best one' !!

The 'cheaper' trailers too are equally as iconic to Travellers of the time, different to 'tourers' being permanent homes, the solid fuel stove, glass fronted display cabinets, cut mirrors etc. set them a world apart from the ordinary caravan. By 1980 the demise of the huge heavy trailers was complete, new builders emerged offering smaller, lighter trailers and a new era began.

Through until the late 1980's trailers remained 'flash', certainly internaly and some exquisite vans were produced, the late 80's saw the transition from 'ornate' to plainer less 'Travellery' vans. The 90's saw some very sterile and 'cold' feeling trailers, plain both inside and out but they were still a recognised 'Travellers trailer' despite that. With the fashion for cheaper, lighter German vans the builders felt the strain and one by one closed down until Roma at York, was the last remaining builder. In 2004 due to both dwindling orders and personal circumstances, they too closed.

The end of an era.................by coincidence, each of the 'major' trailer manufactures businesses remained viable for an average of twenty years!

Today, other than the French built 'Val de Loire' there is not a trailer built specifically for Travellers. Now Tabberts and Hobbys reign supreme.

The following pages celebrate the glory days when these splendid vehicles proclaimed unashamedly a lifestyle and culture. As Dominic Reeve wrote,

"shining out in a rather oppressed way of life". Sadly, when the 'flash' trailer went out of fashion many ended up in the hands of people who had no respect for them and many have been lost or ruined beyond repair. Many were scrapped, some were burnt, but thankfully there are 'survivors', far more than I imagined I am happy to say. For those people familiar with old style trailers I hope you find the site of interest, for those unfamiliar I hope you are as impressed as you should be !!!

enjoy the site...........Ken Mayhew.

 CLICK THE PICTURES TO VISIT KENS SITE BEWARE !!! YOU WILL BE HOOKED AND WANT ONE OF THESE FABULOUS TRAILERS!!!

All text & pictures copyright of Ken's Romany Trailers or their relevent owners and used with their Kind permission