Gypsy Roma Traveller History

Month 2011

Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month celebrates the culture and history of Travelling communities in the UK.

Jhonny, Robert and Jim have spent time throughout June designing, making and decorating waggons.

A Brief History

• Waggons, pulled by horses, have been traditional Gypsy homes for 150 years.

•Before then, they walked on foot and used carts to carry their possessions, sleeping in tents called ‘benders’ made out of hazel twigs covered in canvas.

The Gypsies’ name for their waggon is a

Vardo.

Building a Vardo• Building a Vardo took

between 6 and 12 months and used the wood of oak, ash , elm, walnut and pine.

• They were ornately painted and decorated with carvings, and often enriched with gold leaf.

Inside, waggons often had a cast iron stove, for cooking

and heating.

There was one room really with a raised berth for adults to sleep on at the back. Children snuggled on a smaller berth below.

Horses• Normally, a single horse of

about 14 hands would pull a Vardo. The usual day’s travel was about 15 miles.

•Sadly, today very few original Vardos are left.

The Gypsies’ name for their waggon is a

Vardo.

First we made our waggons and horses

from clay.

When the clay was dry we painted our models.

Would you like us to answer any questions?