Manufacturer celebrated by Caravan and Motorhome Club Collection

Bertram Hutchings Caravans Ltd, later known as Winchester Caravans, is being honoured by the Caravan and Motorhome Club Collection at the Hampshire Record Office in Winchester this summer.

“Home on Wheels” – The Story of Winchester Caravans is running from 4th July to 31st August at the Hampshire Record Office. It will include an exhibition and talk, as well as family activity packs at participating Club sites in Hampshire.

Launched in 1912 by Bertram Hutchings, the manufacturer became known as “The Rolls Royce of Caravans”, and was in operation for five decades, in which time it successfully produced horse-drawn, motor and trailer caravans – motorhomes were produced to order.

In 2015, photos, ephemera and journals were donated to the Caravan and Motorhome Club Collection, hosted at the National Motor Museum, and since then, this has been catalogued, digitised and researched by volunteers at the museum.

Now, following a grant from the Hampshire Archive Trust, the public will be able to learn the story behind the manufacturer for the very first time.

Tickets can also be purchased to a talk by Angela Willis, Senior Curator at the Caravan and Motorhome Club Collection, on the history of the caravan holiday, which will be held at the Records Office on 7th August, between 6:30pm-8:30pm.

Angela said: “The arrival of Bertram Hutchings’ collection at the Museum was a real career highlight. It is unusual for the era that such a stunning visual record of a caravan business was created, but for it to have survived to this day is truly remarkable. I am delighted that Bertram Hutchings’ story is returning to Winchester this summer, and we can celebrate his legacy on leisure travel.”

You can find out about the more modern brands in our guide to the best motorhome manufacturers too.

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Peter Byrne

Peter is the Content Editor for Practical Caravan and Practical Motorhome. With over half a decade of experience as a digital editor, Peter’s expertise spans from interiors and homes to food and design. Writing for the website – and occasionally the magazine – Peter oversees the online buying guides, features and news. His career to-date has seen him do everything from launching websites to giving a speech to 250 people at the Tower of London with less than 24 hours notice.