A Short History Of Caravans In The Uk

Richard Hammond has had a longstanding love affair, bordering on the obsessive some might say, with caravans. He has researched their origins and history, celebrity owners, the uses to which they have been put, their place in history, names, jargon, games with, things to do in, recipes to cook in and future of. He also gives sound practical advice on how to use them to best advantage, race them (ensuring first they are of the non-static variety), and how to destroy them in interesting ways (of which he has much experience - 80 or so at the last count). An essential guide for any owner or prospective owner or indeed anyone with even a passing interest in caravans, of whatever sex or age, or race, or inclination. Or even perhaps someone with apparently no interest in caravans who might have a previously latent interest aroused. Some even talk in hushed tones of a parallel universe, though he has no personal experience of this, yet. Anything is possible.

Two Caravans is the hilarious and engaging second novel from bestselling author Marina Lewycka. A field of strawberries in Kent... And sitting in it are two caravans - one for the men and one for the women. The residents are from all over: miner's son Andriy is from the old Ukraine, while sexy young Irina is from the new: they each other warily. There are the Poles, Tomasz and Yola; two Chinese girls; and Emauel from Malawi. They're all here to pick strawberries in England's green and pleasant land. But these days England's not so pleasant for immigrants. Not with Russian gangster-wannabes like Vulk, who's taken a shine to Irina and thinks kidnapping is a wooing strategy. And so Andriy - who really doesn't fancy Irina, honest - must set off in search of that girl he's not in love with. 'Immensely appealing. All but sings with zest for life...could hardly be more engaging, shrewd and winningly perceptive' Sunday Times 'Extremely funny, closely observed insights, scenes of farce, tragedy and horror' The Times Literary Supplement 'Hilarious and horrifying, Two Caravans is funny, clever and well observed' Guardian Bestselling author Marina Lewkyca has received great critical acclaim since the publication of her hilarious first novel A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian in 2005, which was the winner of the Bollinger Everyman Prize for Comic Fiction 2005, winner of the Saga Award for Wit 2005, shortlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction 2005 and longlisted for the Booker prize 2005. Her other humorous novels We Are All Made of Glue and Various Pets Alive and Dead are also available from Penguin. Two Caravans is published as Strawberry Fields in the USA and Canada.

A detailed account of how the British caravan industry developed in its first 30 years, and of the caravans - from Alcock to Winchester - it produced. The designs in this period ran the full gamut from weird to wonderful, but all contributed to the caravan’s evolution. This book provides a nostalgic trip back to the past for caravan enthusiasts; it also serves as a record of the industry’s fledgling years and as a useful work of reference.

This book is a visual and informative look at the heritage of the touring caravan covering over a 100 years of this now very popular form of leisure. The book witnesses the UK being the inventor, developer and major producer of touring caravans. Images; (many from the Authors own personal archive) shows how caravan interior/exterior design has evolved and has been influenced by domestic trends through the decades. With nostalgic images the book brings to life this often forgotten yet important aspect of the modern touring caravan. Covering imported caravans as well as UK manufactured models shows just how continental tastes differ from UK buyers. The touring caravan is a modern and sophisticated leisure vehicle that has evolved since the first commercial built Eccles brand caravan back in 1919. A then rich mans hobby, it became more affordable by the 1930’s and this was made possible with more modern production techniques. The design of the caravan emerged from a basic box like profile influenced by the 1800’s horse drawn gypsy caravan that became a fashionable form of holiday with the gentry. Dr Gordon Stables a retired Naval Officer influenced this idea with his specially built horse drawn caravan “The Wanderer” – now on show at the Broadway Caravan & Motorhome Club Site. Stables wrote of his adventures and caravanning in a sense had begun. The book contains many unpublished and rare images which also features cars from the period too. Andrew writes for Practical Motorhome, Practical Caravan and Park Home and Holiday Caravan Magazine among others and attends all major related shows.

Caravanning is without doubt the essence of the quintessential British holiday. Many readers will have enjoyed their first taste of touring in their formative years, as their parents travelled around the British Isles in search of sun, sightseeing and relaxation. For some, the experience will have been, perhaps, less than memorable but for the majority it will have ignited a lifelong love affair with the “box on wheels”. Whatever your particular story, it can be traced back to The Wanderer, the world’s first leisure touring caravan, commissioned by Dr William Gordon Stables in the mid 1880s. This Scottish-born doctor and author believed that the outdoor lifestyle offered by caravanning would bring health benefits and who can argue with his foresight? Come and join us on a nostalgic journey as we take a look at caravanning and help us celebrate 125 years of this addictive pastime.

The much-loved TOP GEAR host, and No.1 bestselling author of ON THE EDGE, on learning to love your caravan - includes advice on how to blow it up when you have finished with it. This is the essential guide for any owner or prospective owner, or indeed anyone with even a passing interest in caravans, of whatever sex, age, race or inclination. Or anyone with an interest in seeing them blown to bits on the telly. From the history of the caravan and their role in preventing World War Three to caravan racing and what the future might hold for the mobile home we all love (or love to hate), Richard Hammond leaves no stone unturned in this comprehensive account of the enduring appeal of a road pest ... I mean, motoring icon.

A monograph analyzing a number of modern British women writers and the way in which the the canon of post-war British writing has been formed.

In this new edition of A Short History of the Middle Ages, Barbara H. Rosenwein offers a panoramic view of the medieval world. Volume I ranges from northeastern North America to Kievan Rus’, while never losing sight of the main contours of the period c.300 to c.1150. The lively and informative narrative covers the major developments, political and religious movements, people, saints and sinners, economic and cultural changes, ideals, fears, and fantasies of the period in Europe, Byzantium, and the Islamic world. A comprehensive new map program, updated for the global reach of this edition, offers a way to visualize the era’s enormous political, economic, and religious changes. Line drawings make clear archaeological finds and architectural structures. All of the maps, genealogies, and figures in the book, as well as practice questions and suggested answers, are available at utphistorymatters.com.