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Gypsy Roma Traveller Month

HARTLEBURY CASTLE
One of the largest displays of original Gypsy waggons in the UK

On 28th June 2009 Hartlebury Castle Museum, nr Kidderminster, Worcestershire held a special one-day event.  "Gypsies who are ya!" was a celebration of Gypsy Roma Traveller heritage and culture - an exciting look at the way travellers lived in the past and the way they live today.

Things to see included:

• One of the largest on-going displays in the country of Gypsy waggons, including the famous Gypsy Lore Society bowtop Esmeralda.  Esmeralda was built in 1909 and owned by the Gypsy Lore Society (GLS).  She came to the museum from the family of author Anthony Sampson whose father John Sampson toured in her with the GLS.   It's believed the waggon was named after Esmeralda Locke, the daughter of a well-known Welsh Gypsy family.  The vardo's construction is unusual in having both a bowed top and side windows.  She is also particularly large, and the wheels may have come from a pair of recycled carriage axles.  Esmeralda was restored by one of the museum's volunteers. 

 

Other features (28th June only):

• Extra bowtops from The Bowtop Company and Master Vardo Artist/Historian John Pockett
• Artist Juliette Jeffrey with some of her fabulous paintings based around Gypsy life.
• Displays and demonstrations of traditional crafts.
• Falconry displays.
• Folk musicians The Craigans.
• Stalls and more.
  

 

 

County Museum
Hartlebury Castle
near Kidderminster
Worcestershire

CLICK HERE to visit the museum's website
for more information

 

 

Whittler and map copyright Worcestershire Castle Museum.
JP bowtop copyright ValleyStream.

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