1870

Believed to be built by William Fuller of St Ives, Huntingdon, little is known about the Romany man who had this waggon commissioned for his Gaji (Non Romany woman) bride to be.  A man of money though, as he wanted no expense spared on the build.  The Reading type van, which was favoured, was "ordered" to be larger and heavier than others built at this time, so with a height of 11ft 9in, a length of 14ft 6in and a width of 5ft 8in, it weighed in at 2 tons.  On the exterior, it was fitted with distinctive carvings, although none were completely identical and the crownboards were an elaborate interweave of acanthus scrolls, with the front one having a likeness carved of both the Romany man and his bride underneath, which were fitted on top either side of the door lintel.

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  1891

Purchased in the spring of 1891, in an almost derelict condition in Brighton, for a few pounds by Mr Ernest Westlake of Fordingbridge, Hampshire.  Again, it is thought, to please his future bride and for the eagerly anticipated planned use of it after their marriage on May 1st of the same year.  However, it seems there was strong disapproval and a general bias regards the van from their families and so it remained in Brighton for the next 15 yrs, close to where it was purchased. 

 

The initial sale and labour was overseen by Robert Penney, Quaker merchant of Brighton, who corresponded with Mr Westlake in the spring regarding the work being undertaken.  Repairs were carried out by Woolven, paintwork by Sheppard, and imagined to be fully restored by the summer of 1891.

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This freshly restored and painted waggon was drawn to St Ann's Well, Hove, Brighton, where George Albert Smith, a friend of Ernest Westlake, took custody of it.

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  1897

Due to some financial difficulties and fear of bankruptcy, Ernest Westlake sold his waggon for 2 guineas to his good friend George Smith.  This was done in order to not only raise a little money but also safeguard the waggon, as their understanding was that Ernest could buy it back for the same price when his financial situation improved.

 

 

  1898

Ernest wrote to his brother-in-law Clarence, outlining the understanding between himself and George Smith regarding the waggon and asks that he purchase it on their behalf for his wife (and Clarence's sister) Lucy.  He writes with some urgency, as he explains he doesn't want to lose claim to the waggon should anything happen to his friend George.  Also he feels they may need to use it should they have to move suddenly.

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  1899

An attempt to remove the waggon from St Anne's Well was aborted.  George Smith writes to Ernest advising that he should sell the waggon, cut his losses.  He states that the body is "extremely old and rotten" and "will stand but very little shaking".  He felt that the removal/transport was too much of an expense.  He explains that a local contractor, Mr Palmer, estimated that it would take 2 cart horses and possibly, sometimes a third.  And before he would even undertake moving it over country roads, he advises that the wheels would need 'cutting and shutting' (made smaller), as he is sure they would work off the van before it had moved many miles. The brake power was insufficient and would need fitting.  Unfortunately, Mr Palmer, was the only person willing to undertake the job at all.  Nothing, it seems, came of this particular plan to move the waggon.

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  1906

St Ann's Well changed hands.  The Wick Estate, as the new owners, asked for Ernest, who by this time was now temporarily living and working in France, to remove the waggon.   Over the course of the 8 months to follow "conflict ensued for possession of the caravan".  The entanglement of the situation evident by written correspondence between many parties, which included: Mark Tucker, agent for the Wick Estate.   Ernest Westlake, waggon owner.  Clarence Rutter, Ernest's brother-in-law and solictor.  George Smith, former lessee of St Anne's Well and friend of Ernest.  Robert Penney,  who was acting agent for Ernest.  Gasson and Company Ltd, who were tasked with the job to remove the waggon.  Sidney Rake, first cousin to Ernest.

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And so began a crucial and very decisive chapter in the waggon's life.

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Autumn of this year, Ernest was notified by George that the new owners of St Ann's Well required the removal of the waggon with immediate effect.  Ernest directed Clarence to write to Mark Tucker, who had sent a letter asking that either the wheels be replaced (new ones hired) or repaired, so that the waggon could be moved.  A few days later, however, Ernest receives his own letter from Tucker, whilst in France.  He writes to Clarence in detail, telling him not to bother writing any further to this agent and that a minimal offer has been made on the waggon, to cut it up and convert it into a summerhouse.  The wheels have rotted and the trees surrounding the waggon have penned it in, making it impossible to remove without pulling it apart.  He writes then again to Clarence regards Robert Penney, who has told him the waggon is "impossible" to move, the result of which only succeeds in provoking Ernest, who responds he will move it, even if he has to do it himself.  In the meantime, various firms are contacted by Robert Penney, but nothing transpires.

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  1907

April 4th, Gasson and Co. Ltd of Brighton write with a proposal to move the waggon.  The Wick Estate have prohibited them from cutting any tree branches, meaning they cannot move it by trolly, but 'they would put the caravan's own wheels into condition for £3-14s'.  An offer promptly accepted. 

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Four days later, Mark Tucker writes to Ernest demanding 27 weeks rent, in respect of the caravan standing in the grounds of St Ann's Well since the Wick Estate took over in September 1906, and several requests having been made for it's removal during this time.  This bombshell causes Ernest to write to Robert Penney and ask that Gasson and Co.Ltd expedite the repairs and removal.  Momentum now essential.  

 

Then another shock befell as Robert Penney informed Clarence : "Mr Tucker tells me this morning in addition to rent he shall before the van is moved require an indemnity to make good any damage which may be done." In other words - "No money, no waggon".

 

Deadlock -  battle now commences for possession of the van. 

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Not wanting to lose the van, on April 15th Ernest writes to Clarence with an urgent and heartfelt request for help, expressing some of his concerns regarding the sudden claim for rent, after the previous interest from Mr Tucker wanting to purchase the waggon, was denied.  Urging his brother-in-law to use his position as a solicitor with regards the claim and the indemnity as he believed foul play to be involved regards the removal plans.

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Clarence must have used his legal status very effectively as after several letters between himself and Mr Tucker, his adversary "crumbled" and on May 3rd, Sidney Rake, living at Oaklands, was informed about the van, and took receipt of it on behalf of Ernest a few days later.   Safely moved, the end of an extremely anxious and vexatious time.  However an extra charge was made by Gasson and Co. Ltd "for taking off the springs, etc, as when the van was loaded on the railway track, it was too high for the gauge". 

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  1911

October, Ernest writes to Clarence asking what, in his opinion, is a reasonable rent for a field on which to put a waggon on as he was thinking of having it moved onto Harnham Hill, Salisbury, to bed down in.  It seemed the room he was renting, he was told, once he'd laid the money out and fitted up, he was not allowed to sleep in.  He writes again a month later to reveal he has now sited the caravan with a daily supply of water for £2 per annum on Harnham Hill.  And there it remained, despite concerns from his Aunt, for several years.

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  1912

Spring, and a request was made by Ernest's son Aubrey to use the caravan with several of his old school friends, taking it into the New Forest, a popular place for holidaying caravanners and very on trend. A strong shire named Rosy Pants was hired in Salisbury and the caravan fitted out.

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  1914

To mark his coming of age, Aubrey's 21st, another request was made to take the caravan on holiday with his friends. Unfortunately 3 yrs on Harnhill Hill had had catastrophic effects on the waggon.  Again the wheels became the victim of the elements and needed to be renewed.  Ernest states in his letter that the wheels were being made smaller, the rear from 5ft to 4ft and the front 4ft 8" to 3ft 8" - the latter being standard sizes.  It was unsure if it would be ready in time. However on June 6th, Ernest received a letter from Smith, the wheelwright, to say that he'd drawn the waggon to Longford Hill (just outside Salisbury) and one rear wheel had almost collapsed.  There would be more delay before the waggon could be used as Smith expected it to take him 3 weeks to have the waggon rolling.

 

June 23rd brings good news, after being repainted and varnished, the van was now ready to move to Godshill and placed on rough ground No.77, ready for use.  Subsequent photographs of the birthday event however show a different waggon being used, which can't be accounted for.  Old letters though provide evidence of their caravan appearing on the rough ground in question, which was part of 42 acres of purlieu and forest land in Godshill near Fordingbridge.  There it was used by Margaret (his daughter), the housekeeper and various friends who came to visit for the next seven years.

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  1921

The caravan was moved back to Oaklands, Fordingbridge

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  1922

Ernest tragically died in a road accident in October.  After his death, Sidney arranged for the waggon to be moved to Sandy Balls, which would become it's spiritual home until 2016.  Sandy Balls Wood was part of the Breamore Estate auctioned off in 1919 to pay death duties after the passing of the 7th Baronet, Edward Hamilton Westrow Hulse, in WWI.  Ernest purchased this captivating woodland with its outstanding views across the Avon Valley.

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  1923 - 38

After his marriage in 1923, the waggon was moved to the Festive Circle (in Sandy Balls Wood) and used by Aubrey's wife and their 2 young children (Aubrey would camp), allowing them all to take part in the Folkmoot Festivities.  It was also used as a holiday home until their children were of school age.  In 1938, due to Aubrey's growing family, himself, his wife and five children, the waggon was used as an extra bedroom, pulled alongside a small dwelling on the estate called 'The Eyrie', until their eventual move into another, larger property on the Sandy Balls Estate.

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  1942 - 57

Drawn into the woodland under a circle of pines, the waggon was used by the Melmoth family for the next 12 years, who came over on weekends and in the holidays from Southampton, until their move to London and a new job.  In 1954, a young Eurasian patient of Aubrey's, suffering from Tuberculosis, spotted the van under the cover of the pine trees and felt it would cure him, if he could only dwell there.  His health did indeed improve and he began to paint the waggon as he gained his strength.  It received its first coat of bright colours after being, for many years, a uniform green. Living in and working on, painting inside and out with a fastidiousness and a caring nature, until his recovered health allowed his return home to London.  Mr W. O. Wood, who collaborated with Aubrey, developing patterns of health, resided in the waggon from 1956 - 57.  Taking inspiration from the quiet tranquility of the enveloping woodland, master healing patterns emerged, leaving him in no doubt of the magical affect the van had on his work. 

 

 

  1967

Sidney Finch, craftsman and artist, lived in the Folkhouse (on Sandy Balls Estate) with his wife and daughter and became the next person to work under the spell of the waggon. 1967 saw major restoration work undertaken, and the whole van was completely revived. The best gloss paints were bought, the colours giving a new appeal, however the van was not gilded. The front porch brackets, which had been lost early in its life, were re-carved in oak and fitted, Sidney's hand integrating with the distinctive style of the resident carvings.  The work estimated at a rough cost of £500.  Under the devoted care of Mr Finch the caravan was kept maintained annually until his retirement in 1985.

 

 

  1982

Granddaughter of Ernest Westlake, Mrs Jean Westlake, published a book called 'Gipsy Caravan - A 100-years story', a detailed account of the waggon entwined with her family's history.  A lovely publication with great passion for its subject, containing research, letters, memories, sketches by the author and meticulous drawings of the waggon and it's distinctive set of individual carvings.

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*Sandy Balls, which began as a simple development in 1937 to create a holiday centre, providing low cost holidays, continued after WWII in the 1950s and 60s with extended accommodation and an added restaurant and shop.  The Centre was extensively updated by the Westlake family in 1980 with more redevelopment to come in 2007.*  (In 2017 ownership of Sandy Balls left the Westlake family and was transferred to Away Resorts Ltd.).

 

 

 A New Era

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  2016

Sold to Ange Davies at the UK Vardo Project for full restoration.  Click on the button below to read more

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