Romany Caravans

Romany Caravans We are specialist dealers in canvas bow top caravans, vardoes and ledge wagons.

There's an old tradition within the Romany community of burning the wagon of a deceased gypsy. This was done out of supe...
31/03/2026

There's an old tradition within the Romany community of burning the wagon of a deceased gypsy. This was done out of supersitition and was not a funeral pyre. The event was played out in the TV series "Peaky Blinders", some of which was filmed in Arley Hall, Cheshire. Hopefully Tommy Shelby won't be turning up with a can of petrol on this occasion. What an amazing setting for this wagon.

For more amazing wagons
https://romanycaravans.com/BowTop.html

31/03/2026

Gypsy Wagon at Arley Hall. The fictional home of Tommy Shelby of Peaky Blinders

Spring is finally in the air. A lovely day to air the wagons out, the daffodils are already out, early this year. Lets l...
01/03/2026

Spring is finally in the air. A lovely day to air the wagons out, the daffodils are already out, early this year. Lets look forward to a great summer and getting back outdoors again.

https://www.romanycaravans.com/BowTop.html

It was very common years ago for travelers to live in their wagon when on the move, but if other accommodation was avail...
17/01/2026

It was very common years ago for travelers to live in their wagon when on the move, but if other accommodation was available, to remove he bow and use the dray for working. Many travelers had annual circuits, welcomed on to farms for harvesting and other busy times.
No doubt this dray was used by one Joseph Clark of Hamersley to conduct his business as a "general dealer". The bow has probably been added later and makes cosy enough quarters.
You can see more of this wagon on
https://romanycaravans.com/gypsy-wagon-for-sale-01.html

Where's a good place to go when the snow we've just had lies deep and crisp and even?Well a wagon is a small space, so a...
09/01/2026

Where's a good place to go when the snow we've just had lies deep and crisp and even?
Well a wagon is a small space, so a small wood stove or camping gas heater is all it needs to be ... cosy.
Meanwhile outside can be as cold and snowy as it likes.

Canvas 3When it comes to putting the canvas on, any seams in the sheet need to be "up and over". Get them symmetrical on...
09/09/2025

Canvas 3
When it comes to putting the canvas on, any seams in the sheet need to be "up and over". Get them symmetrical on a side view of the wagon and start at the centre seam. (If you have three panels, the half way along the wagon should be the middle of a panel.)

Tack in on one side and tension from the other, preferably along the seams as these are much stronger. We use rachet straps nowadays, if there is no rush tighten slowly (not tearing the canvas and let it stretch. Wet canvas will stretch anyhow, so wetting it or waiting for a couple of showers will help. If there is no urgency, take a few days to let it stretch out, tightening the straps as it does.

The idea is to tighten from the middle, then pull the sheet out on top and so chase the creases and folds to the corners.

Canvas 2After removing the old canvas, including digging out old nails etc, the covered woodwork is exposed since the la...
05/09/2025

Canvas 2

After removing the old canvas, including digging out old nails etc, the covered woodwork is exposed since the last sheet was put on. Often we find additional jobs here, but this one is as sound as a pound (if we can still use that expression!)

In this instance the carpet liner is being retained, as that is also in good condition. If you wanted to change it, now is a good time. It's usually just a carpet turned in, or a decorative sheet with underlay as insulation. You don't really want thick pile carpet, it can be quite heavy to put on. Even this thickness of carpet plus the canvas will keep this wagon warm in winter with the stove burning away. It is after all a small space to heat, snug and cosy springs to mind.

A nice feature on this wagon is the inclusion of spacers where the hoops meet the dray. Another job if their not present, but in means the side rail fits flush on the canvas as opposed to little spaces between hoops.

Canvas Replacement 1Cotton canvas sheets tend to last between 5-20 years. Eventually UV or wear and tear get the better ...
25/08/2025

Canvas Replacement 1
Cotton canvas sheets tend to last between 5-20 years. Eventually UV or wear and tear get the better of them. Once a wagon leaks, it goes rapidly down hill.

So we need to put a new canvas on. The first job is to remove the aptly named weather boards. Weather does tend attack these as well and they may often need replacing, doubling the cost of the job. The ledges and frames also tend to rot at the exposed ends, so a simple canvas job can be much more.

This one is straight forward, everything was in good condition bar one board that split on the grain, easily repaired. Number your boards to make it easier to put them back on.

Romany caravans are showing two wagons at Berriew Show. Wishing everyone a great day.
23/08/2025

Romany caravans are showing two wagons at Berriew Show. Wishing everyone a great day.

Recently repaired wheels for an antique Dunton wagon by Jo Fredericks of Banks, near Southport. The rear wheels are 60" ...
19/08/2025

Recently repaired wheels for an antique Dunton wagon by Jo Fredericks of Banks, near Southport. The rear wheels are 60" diameter, impressive wheels for an impressive wagon. Many thanks to Jo
https://www.jfredricksjoinery.co.uk/

Currently not fully on our website is this working dray with bow top. Quite often travellers dismounted the bow if they ...
19/11/2024

Currently not fully on our website is this working dray with bow top. Quite often travellers dismounted the bow if they had alternative accommodation to hand and used the dray for...general dealing in this case. Restoration is still ongoing, namely weather boards and a cotton canvas sheet, the underlying PVC one renders the inside totally dry. You can view the webpage below, offers in the region of £5000 "as is". The beautiful decorative paintwork has suffered, but is in part restoreable.

https://romanycaravans.com/gypsy-wagon-for-sale-15.html

Address

Old Post Office Forden
Welshpool
SY218LX

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 10am

Telephone

+447594283523

Website

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