At over 150yrs of age, arguably the oldest original Romany Kite wagon in existence in the UK today, believed to have been built by Fuller of St Ives, Huntingdonshire.  

 

The earliest provenance of the wagon can be traced back to spring 1891 when it was discovered in Brighton to be in a quite "derelict state" and purchased by Ernest Westlake, who then had it restored. The Westlake’s went on to own this wagon for the next 125yrs. It even inspired a book ‘Gipsy Caravan – A 100yrs Story’, written and illustrated by Jean Westlake, the granddaughter of Ernest, telling the tale of the wagon's history interwoven with their family's.

 

Standing at approximately 11’ 9” high, this van has slightly larger dimensions than other wagons of its type, being 14’ 6" long and 5’ 8" wide. The exterior decoration has been kept sympathetic to the caravan’s past, with the intention to keep to the colours of the original restoration Ernest Westlake commissioned, as interpreted from Jean's book - "green with flashes of gold"

 

Inside there are bunk beds to the rear, 2 locker seats (one either side of the wagon), a chest of drawers (with lifting lid), 2 small cupboards one with a drawer above and a double corner cupboard (with a cubby hole above). There is more storage under the bottom bunk accessed by 2 sliding doors.

 

It has spent the last 6yrs dry stored and secluded in the Welsh hills undergoing a complete restoration which is now slowly coming to an end. During this time, I had hoped to find a place for it in the public domain so that it could be seen again by the many people who remember it with much fondness in the New Forest area.  However, sadly, I have had no success in finding a museum, historic house or heritage/rural centre able to take the wagon on loan in order to secure its future preservation.

 

I’m looking to sell to genuine, interested buyers only please - no time wasters.
This is a unique opportunity to own a piece of wagon history, becoming a part of its adventures and continuing story for many more years to come.

 

For more information please email me: paintyourwaggon@hotmail.com

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