ROMANY GYPSY TRAILERS

*** earliest trailers ***

As far as trailers for Travellers go, the two earliest builders were Eccles and Hills of Swinefleet. Eccles started in 1919 at a works in Birmingham.

By 1927 they had pioneered trailer building and had established a

factory for large scale production. Hills of Swinefleet in Yorkshire were

waggon builders. Circa 1927 they produced a trailer specifically for Travellers, they were modelled on a waggon and had no sink or toilet.

Windows were cut glass and interiors were french polished with cut mirrors and a stove. Eccles too produced living vans for Travellers of a very high quality with waggon characteristics internally. These early trailers were built of plywood over a wooden frame. Although Eccles were primarily a 'tourer' builder they produced 'showmans' for Travelling people right up until the 1960's. In the latter decade the Eccles Traveller was a very popular trailer.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::copyright of pictures unknown::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Thanks to Davy Jones for this great period photo of a Romany lady

and her son with a Brayshaw trailer.                           

This photo has been sent in by Ansell & Ruth Ball.

 

Ruth posted a message about this pic. This very unusual van she thinks was built at Little Street in Kent and is certainly an early photo.

 

Ive never seen a van like this, a cross between a waggon/trailer/small railway carriage !!!

Thanks Ruth for the pic.

seated left to right: 'Little' Tom Ball, unkn, Tom's wife Tilly and their son Tom, known as 'Basingstoke Tom'

Thanks to Sue from 'Romany Genes' for sending this pic.

A beautifully restored Brayshaw with door at opposite end.

 

 

Thanks to 'OVM' of the Old Classic Car

'Old caravan Forum' who is the owner.

A very nice early trailer by Hills of Swinefleet.

 

Seen at the Great Dorset Steam Fair. Unfortunately

there was nobody about when I took the photos........

 

Apparently the van spent its life on the fairs in the north of England used by a fortune teller before being discarded and left to become derelict. Nice to see it

now fully restored..........anybody know this trailer??