The world’s first-ever custom-built leisure touring caravan, The Wanderer, has been awarded Engineering Heritage Listed Status by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers.
The iconic Wanderer provides a continuity from the earliest origins of the pastime through to today.
While technology has progressed and caravanning has become a far more socially-inclusive activity, the essence of what Wanderer was able to facilitate – access to the great outdoors for leisure, in comfort and in safety – is as true of a modern caravan as it is of this 1885 one.
Today’s caravan owner would still recognise many aspects of the fundamental design as being as relevant today as they were 130+ years ago.
Although periodic restorations have been carried out, The Wanderer remains fundamentally as originally built, and largely original in terms of structure, fixtures and fittings.
Where parts have had to be repaired or replaced, this has been done sensitively, with original components being reused, including the original wheel hubs.
As such, the look and feel of the original design has been carefully retained, and continues to give a faithful impression of the concept when new.
As the world’s first caravan made specifically for leisure purposes, The Wanderer played a significant role in the growth of this vitally important industry and the enjoyment and wellbeing of millions of tourers who love the great outdoors.
Today, it resides in the renovated railway Goods Shed at the Caravan and Motorhome Club Broadway campsite.
The Wanderer and its interpretation panels help visiting Club members to learn more about the origins of their pastime.
The Wanderer design and build
A surgeon in the Royal Navy, Dr William Gordon Stables retired to Berkshire in his thirties due to ill health.
During his time in the Royal Navy, Stables had voyaged around the world and he used this adventurous nature to become a successful author, writing adventure books for boys.
Inspired by the Romany way of life he commissioned the Bristol Wagon Company, makers of the Pullman railway carriage, to build a caravan robust enough – structurally and technically – to undertake a tour of the UK.
Built in 1885 at a cost of £300, The Wanderer was relatively luxurious with its own cooking and washing facilities and even musical instruments for entertainment.
A unique concept when first built, the design drew on features used in other applications but never combined before such as: small wheels/wide body to maximise interior space; a sophisticated braking system; an incredibly well planned interior layout (which would still work well today) and versatile storage in every spare space.
The caravan weighed a hefty two tons due to its construction out of rich mahogany, lined with maple adorned with black and gold mouldings and so was fitted with a tramcar brake, an iron skid to lock one wheel if necessary when going downhill.
It also had a roller towed on a chain bridle to check the back wheel if the horses struggled uphill and the caravan began to roll backwards.
In the summer of 1885, Stables left Twyford in Berkshire, to embark on a 1,300-mile tour of the UK.
With two horses and accompanied by his manservant, it took two months to reach Inverness in Scotland, travelling at an average speed of two miles an hour.
The Wanderer created considerable interest and curiosity from locals on its journey.
With the poor quality of the roads, Stables’s servant would scout ahead on a tricycle to ensure their suitability for such a large ‘van.
The following year Stables wrote up the journey in a book entitled ‘The Cruise of the Land-Yacht Wanderer’ (1886).
This book inspired others to follow and the craze for caravanning took off, although in the early decades, in an age before workers enjoyed paid holidays, it was almost exclusively restricted to the wealthy.
This elite group of pioneer caravanners became widely known as ‘Gentlemen Gypsies’.
The Wanderer became a point of reference for other designs, thanks in part to its own effective design and Stables’ publications.
It featured in ‘how to’ books on caravanning for many years to follow.
The Caravan Club of Great Britain and Ireland, which became the Caravan and Motorhome Club in 2017, formed on 14 June 1907 when barrister and journalist J Harris Stone gathered eleven enthusiasts to his London home.
Dr William Gordon Stables, although not present at this inaugural meeting, was appointed Vice President, a post he held until his death in 1910.
The Club aimed to bring together like-minded caravanners and to help source caravans for people that required them.
Harris Stone also set about organising and listing suitable caravan pitches, ending the need to apply to landowners for a place to stop.
Today the Caravan and Motorhome Club represents 1.1 million individuals across the UK.
Following Stables’ death in 1910, The Wanderer was sold but subsequently bought back by the family.
It remained with the family until his daughter’s death in 1961 when it was bequeathed to The Caravan Club.
Following a period of restoration by Fleetwood Brothers of Staffordshire, The Wanderer was loaned to Bristol City Museum in 1964 before going on display at the Bristol Industrial Museum.
Although periodic restorations have been carried out, The Wanderer remains fundamentally as built, original in terms of structure, fixtures and fittings.
Where parts have had to be repaired or replaced, this has been done sensitively, with original components being reused and as such, the look and feel of the original design has been sensitively retained and continues to give a faithful impression of the concept when new.
In 1982, The Wanderer helped to mark the Club’s 75th Anniversary, attending the Royal Windsor Horse Show and for the Centenary in 2007 by making appearances at both Blenheim Palace and Buckingham Palace.
Nick Lomas, Director General of the Caravan and Motorhome Club said: “The Wanderer was the first caravan built specifically for leisure and, as such, led to caravanning becoming the popular leisure activity it is today together with all of the associated benefits to the UK economy.
“The Club is proud to be the custodian of this incredible vehicle, it is a unique survivor from an era when leisure was the exception, not the norm.
“We are delighted and proud it has been recognised with a Engineering Heritage Listed Status award.”
Don’t forget to subscribe to the Van Life Matters newsletter or download the Van Life Matters App to stay up-to-date with the latest UK Van Life news, tips and advice.
