Ernest Langton Has Taken Almost Ten Years To Build A Magnificent Full Size Gypsy Caravan

A replica of a Romany vardo has been built single-handed to recreate a beautiful and romantic sight from the past.

In his back garden at Ashingdon in Essex, Ernest Langton has built a full-size replica of a Romany vardo or caravan, now a rare sight in the United Kingdom. He is seen sliding the window shutters of the ornately carved and brightly painted caravan. On the door is a carving of a gold horse rearing at a gate. Ernie researched the historical vardo through the Gypsy Lore Society, museums and photographs, then began to build his own imaginative interpretation of a caravan from beech, oak and mahogany as a project after his mother died. In his tidily organised workshop with its rows of tools, he works on a carved wooden panel. Interviewed by reporter Stephen Cole, Ernie says this ten-year project has been a relaxing contrast to his job in metalwork and he is enjoying the process rather than in a hurry to complete it. When he looks out at the caravan in his garden, he imagines wandering the country lanes. The interior of the caravan is shown with its stained glass, velvet furnishings and carved wooden fittings, lace curtains, floral ceramics and a violin. This video was made to be shown in a news story on Anglia Television early evening news / magazine programme About Anglia.

Keywords

Caravans; Vardos; Woodwork; Crafts; Historical reconstructions; Travellers; Gipsies; Gypsies; Romani; Romanies

Place

Ashingdon (Other)