A charming but dilapidated living van formerly owned by Sir William McAlpine will be restored by Surrey architectural salvage dealer Damian Cronin for sale at Salvo Fair next June.
 
Cronin, who deals in reclaimed timber and flooring, is the owner of Woodstone Ltd. He recently bought the gypsy wagon from the McAlpines with the intention of returning it to its former glory so it could be used as a garden office, guest room, kids camping wagon or general space to relax outside.
 
Damian explained, "It is similar in size to a shepherd's hut, but much prettier. The original carved wooden pairs of sunflower corbels at both ends of the roof were the selling point for me. We think that it is either a 'ledge top wagon' which would have come from Surrey, or more likely a 'lantern top wagon' from Hampshire."
 
"It is a British travelling wagon. It would not have been used for living in, like a showman's wagon, but more for staying in whilst working away from home, possibly during a picking or harvesting season. It may have been towed by a steam wagon."
 
"First of all, we will restore the little lantern windows located beneath the roof. Then we will add a bed with storage underneath and possibly a little stove. It would be great for kids to have bunk beds. We will repair the doors and build some stairs to get in and out. We are thinking about building a collapsible bannister and terrace for a small table and chairs."
 
"It would have had a white-painted interior to make it brighter. I don't know if we will paint the outside - it is obviously not the original colour at the moment, but it would be better for the decision to be made by whoever ends up with it sitting in their garden."
 
Woodstone Ltd has been exhibiting at Salvo Fair for many years. Damian Cronin will bring the restored gypsy wagon back to Fawley Hill for Salvo Fair where it will be for sale.
 
Success at previous Salvo Fairs for exhibitors selling shepherds huts and summerhouses has led to enquiries and a few provisional bookings for architectural salvage or decorative antique pitches at the next Salvo Fair from dealers who aim to include a variety of traditional mobile homes, such as the ubiquitous showmans wagon from Cronin's Reclamation.
 
Showman's wagons are believed to date from the late 1700s when living huts were fixed to open wagons by travelling theatres, opera companies and circuses. Their small underslung wheels gave a larger living area with an overhanging body, known as 'ledge' wagons. In the 1800s these wagons were adapted by gypsies to have a semicircular removable canvas roof with large diameter rear wheels on a wider axle which made them better for fording streams. Cronin's living van is similar to Roald Dahl's gypsy wagon (see pic link below).
 
Salvo Fair will be held on 27-28 June with Trade Day on Friday 26 June, at Fawley Hill, Fawley Green, Henley-on-Thames RG9 6JA, Oxfordshire. Open 11am - 5pm.