Ref |
Vardo | History | County |
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081 | ![]() ![]() |
Dunton Reading Partially built by Duntons of Reading and left unfinished when they closed down in 1922. Froud, Rivers and Kernutt acquired the business and finished building her. They added their own names to the hubcaps. The waggon was discovered in a garden at Pershore before being bought by Hartlebury Museum in the 1960s and fully restored. Special thanks to Sue and staff at Hartlebury Castle Musuem.
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Hartlebury Castle Museum |
082 |
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Esmeralda The bowtop was named after Esmeralda Lock, a beautiful Gypsy girl who married Francis Hindes Groome (editor of the GLS Journal). The waggon passed on to John Sampson (another GLS member) and thence to his son, Anthony. He donated Esmeralda to Hartlebury Museum, where volunteer Ced Lewis spent 18 months renovating her.
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Hartlebury Castle |
083 |
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H Jones Ledge Waggon (or Cottage Waggon) Ledge waggons are so-named because of the vertical body being built out on ledges over the wheels. Another name is “cottage” waggon because of its shape. Like the reading, it is very ornate and rare today. The ledge was not a lightweight affair and would have been horsed by a Gypsy vanner, a heavy type, not the light cob pony of today. Special thanks to Sue and staff at Hartlebury Castle Musuem.
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Hartlebury Castle |
084 |
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Orton Spooner Showman |
USA |
085 |
A Rare Mollicroft Bowtop |
UK |
|
086 |
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A miniature Dunton Ledge beautifully detailed. We had to display this little fellow as it's such a fine model. This one is only 16" wide, 27" long and 22" high, and entry is by taking off the roof. Complete with steps and shafts, just needs the horse. It took Richard 750 dedicated hours to make from scratch in 2005-06. He says another waggon is already in the pipeline. Nice one! Pictures courtesy of Richard. |
Essex |
087 |
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Bill Wright Ledge waggon with mollicroft roof and s ladder. Classic example finished in maroon, cream and goldleaf, heavily carved. Very special seahorse design in white and goldleaf on the doors. Pictures: special thanks to Tom and Elizabeth. |
Yorkshire |
088 | ![]() |
Bowtop Window n door type which was originally built as an openlot 10/15 years ago. Once owned by a travelling family from Stowe, the waggon has recently seen Herefordshire and Shropshire. New home in Wales. Beautifully decorated in green and cream, melting into the countryside. Special thanks to John Pockett. |
Wales |
089 | ![]() ![]() |
Bowtop Window n door type - originally an openlot. On artillery wheels, the unders are 40/ 50 years old. Once belonged to a Romani family who told fortunes from the little wagon - their advertising boards were found inside. Now under decoration ready for a new location in Scotland. Special thanks to John Pockett. |
Shropshire |
090 | ![]() ![]() |
Bowtop Originally an Openlot, built 10/15 years ago. Now decorated in maroon and cream paintwork, nicely balanced and not over-worked. Horse motif on sides and front painted by Maggie. Artillery wheels and curved steps. Recently seen Lancashire and Shropshire. Picture courtesy of Rory Coxhill, |
Suffolk |
091 | ![]() |
Half-sized Bowtop From southern England. Now in Shropshire but recently kept in a garden, and before that owned by a Gypsy family. Brightly coloured in red and yellow, with a blue horseshoe and "good luck" on the kettlebox. Special thanks to John Pockett. |
Shropshire |
092 | ![]() |
Tong Ledge waggon spent much time in Suffolk and Norfolk. Lived in by a labourer on a farm, then sited in a garden. Acquired 12 years ago in Devon and moved to Shropshire. Striking deep red body paintwork with yellow under the porch, and gold leaf carvings decorating the front and sides - all original except for possibly the door. Special thanks to John Pockett. |
Shropshire |
093 | ![]() |
Showman/Burton - built by Brayshaws in Leeds in the early 1920s, originally on wooden wheels. Lovely carved panels on front in cream and maroon. Settled in Shropshire for the last 15 years, but once sited at a guest house and was used by the daughter when all rooms were taken. Before that, travelled in by a hippy lady around Radnorshire. Special thanks to John Pockett. |
Shropshire |
094 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Historical Openlot Bowtop built and painted John displays the vardo originally built and painted in Doncaster by the master vardo painter of his day Jim Berry in the late 60s/early 70s. Owned by the Nicholson Gypsy family in the early 70s in north east England, then passed through several hands until joining the William Lee Collection: his son's name "Ryan Lee, General Dealer" is painted on the cratch (hay-carrier). Horses' heads on the kettlebox, and luxurious interior. Special thanks to John Pockett. |
Shropshire |
095 | ![]() ![]() |
Bowtop built in the Yorkshire style. Original underworks with more recent top. Main body stripped down to the timbers and awaiting body colour and decoration, which once completed should make for a really nice looking wagon. Acquired from Reading in 2006. Special thanks to John Pockett. |
Shropshire |
096 | ![]() ![]() |
Openlot - Bowtop originally built in the 1960s, completely restored from the springs upwards. Sean spent over 4 years handcrafting and rebuilding the wagon. Finished in maroon and cream, with smart interior, complete with stove. |
Kent |
097 | ![]() |
Burton waggon built by Herbert Varney Photographed in the 1980s at a re-knowned waggon restorers/builders yard in Hampshire Later on painted green with red unders. Picture courtesy of Don. |
UK |
098 | ![]() |
Row of Bowtops on the hillside at Appleby.
|
Appleby |
099 | ![]() ![]() |
Openlot - Bowtop with harnesses adorning the shafts and luxurious interior. This waggon invited you to sit in it to have your photograph taken.
|
Appleby |
100 | ![]() |
Openlot - Bowtop rolling the grass, yoked up with its pony.
|
Appleby |
101 | ![]() |
Little and Large Small Bowtop, alongside a full Bowtop grey primed and awaiting decoration. Both on wooden wheels. |
Appleby |
102 | ![]() |
Bowtop Primed Bowtop built on a trolley base and on artillery wheels.
|
Appleby |
103 | ![]() |
Unusual wooden panelled waggon on artillery wheels - different. Could make an interesting painter's project.
|
Appleby |
104 | ![]() ![]() |
Openlot - Bowtop green, traditional style with canvas capes and wooden wheels.
|
Appleby |
105 | ![]() |
Bowtop Traditional green and cream Bowtop and small dray side by side and beautifully decorated.
|
Appleby |
106 | ![]() |
Half size Bowtop nicely decorated in green, yellows and golds on wooden wheels.
|
Appleby |
107 | ![]() |
Bowtop window and door type, decorated in shades of greens, curved steps. Top wagon!
|
Appleby |
108 | ![]() |
Bowtop Green Bowtop door and window type on artillery wheels.
|
Huddersfield |
109 | ![]() |
Openlot - Bowtop trad green and cream on spoked wheels - capes drawn and lovely rounded steps.
|
Appleby |
110 | ![]() |
Bowtop Red and cream Bowtop awaiting decoration, on wooden wheels. Should look great when completed.
|
Appleby |
111 | ![]() |
Openlot - Bowtop with capes tied back, mustard with cream unders, very nicely decorated. With S ladder.
|
Appleby |
112 | ![]() ![]() |
Small Bowtop heavily decorated in shades of green, with Shaw Bros on the side panels and cream underworks. Great example. Being steered onto the trailer ready for its journey home.
|
Appleby |
113 | ![]() |
Bowtop on artillery wheels. Red top, cream underworks, door and window style, with an unusual Elizabethan paintwork effect on your eyes.
|
Appleby |
114 | ![]() |
Openlot - Bowtop Red Openlot Bowtop loaded and waiting for its journey back home. This family vardo is often taken to Stow and Appleby. On wooden wheels and decorated with pink rose motifs on the sides.
|
Appleby |
115 | ![]() |
Bowtop Green-based Bowtop waiting for decor, strapped down on to low loader for its safe return.
|
Appleby |
116 | ![]() |
Half Bowtop grey primed door and window type on artillery wheels. Nice blank canvas ready for some rich colours and curlicues.
|
Appleby |
117 | ![]() |
Bowtop - original Openlot around 70 yrs old, built on top of an original Bradford dray. Been in the family for 3 generations, passed down from grandfather to father to son. Lovely example. Picture courtesy of Dave Moore. |
Leicester |
118 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Gordon Boswell Romany Museum. More on Gordon's Museum :- |
Lincolnshire |
119 | ![]() ![]() |
The Dartford Dolly This is a lovely full size living Bowtop wagon. Underworks consist of a 5 foot bow lock, fiddleheads throughout and iron-rimmed wheels. Matching swan steps included. Inside are brilliant cut glass mirrors with baskets of flowers. All the upholstery are matching in creams and golds and have been professionaly made, with a new fitted Wilton carpet on the floor. Stunning paint work by professional vardo painter Geoff Smith, taking two years to complete. Pictures courtesy of Tom. |
Kent |
120 | ![]() ![]() |
Kite Waggon in the "Reading" style Circa 1890s/early 1900s. Fully restored in 1989 to a high standard with swan neck steps and carved wheel-design porch brackets. This wagon is unusually decorated in yellow and black, plus crimson shutters/doors with blue carvings. A fairytale example. Pictures: special thanks to Malcolm.
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Berkshire |
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