ROMANY GYPSY TRAILERS

  Lonsdale Caravans Limited.

  Culgaith, Cumberland

Lonsdale Caravans Limited was started in September 1957. Initially employing 25

staff, the works manager was Mr Ted Sears who had ten years previous experience

in caravan building having previously worked at Vickers in Morecambe. He was

joined from Vickers by Mr Alan Owen as foreman. Although initially builders of

'tourers' the company also produced 'specials' for Travellers and they were well known and liked being of high quality. The first vans were lined with oak or mahogany veneer ply but later ones for Travellers were formica lined. The first models produced were 14, 16 and 18 feet but a 22 foot was soon introduced. It took on average 350 - 400 man hours to produce each van and as such they were not cheap. About twelve vans were in production at any one time in the early years. The initial aim was to produce five a week. Within four months Lonsdale caravans Ltd.

was a flourishing business....................Ted Sears left Lonsdale and in 1961 went into partnership with Alan Dent and the famous Westmorland Star trailer was born.

The first Westmorlands bear a slight resemblance to the early Lonsdale in shape.

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  1958. A 16' 'Falcon' in the works Mr and Mrs Gordon Boswell with their Lonsdale

A later 'Lonsdale' sales leaflet. This quite obviously aimed at travellers !!

Many thanks to Clarissa for sending the original sale leaflet : mid 196o's