Gypsy Wagons - Old and New

Here are some photos of authentic gypsy wagons (vardoes) dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. There are several well defined types of vardo:

I am most interested in the Burton type of wagon since this looks most adaptable to a small home where you need a good width at the floor in order to accommodate a bathroom and galley. I like the wall taper of the Reading wagons but this makes the floor width a bit small for a full width shower to one side of a central passageway. The Bowtop is a popular wagon for modern builders because it is lightweight and quicker to build (using ribs covered in canvas for the sides and roof). However it is perhaps not as easily insulated as the hard-sided wagons being more of a covered wagon.

Following are a few pics of older wagons (apologies for the low resolution of some of these)

The typical interior was also quite ornate and followed a predictable layout by the end of the 19th century. A fireplace/wood stove would be found on the left side of the wagon (when looking at it from the end where the horse was hitched). This placed the chimney stack on the road side to avoid overhanging trees. There were cabinets for storage on either side of a central walkway as well as individual seats. At the far end of the wagon from the door, a bed was raised on a platform, under which were cabinets for storage. Many wagons had little clerestories letting in light and providing ventilation. There was no bathroom or toilet inside, nor was there much in the way of cooking facilities except for the wood stove since cooking was usually done outside.

Ornate interior - note wood stove to left and raised, curtained bed

Modern wagons often vaguely follow the form of the old ones, with much less ornate detailing. To my eye, many of these imitations are not exactly works of beauty. The old wagons are usually pleasingly proportioned and graceful. Perhaps the high suspensions and wagon wheels helped with this, since the new wagons are usually built on heavy steel frames and standard wheels with rubber tires. Also, modern builders often use design approaches and materials more suitable for shed construction - plywood, metal roofing, and modern plastic windows. There are some exceptions, mostly coming from the hands of accomplished wood-workers. Following are a few of designs that I picked because I like them:

Simple but colourful and nicely proportioned

Raised bed in a modern wagon

This amazing creation is one of the few modern wagons I have seen that has a high suspension with two separated axles.

Extremely well built example with only one axle (most larger modern wagons have two).

Built by a talented fine woodworker in Washington state

And here are a few simpler designs:

Plans for these are available from Portland Alternative Dwellings. It is called the 'Don Vardo' and offered in 8 foot and  12 foot versions, the latter being somewhat similar to what I plan to build.