The National Motor Museum Trust

The Wanderer was the world’s very first leisure touring caravan. It was commissioned from Bristol Wagon Works Company in 1885 by Dr William Gordon Stables.

Inspired by traditional horse-drawn Romany caravans, The Wanderer was very luxurious and built from expensive and exotic mahogany wood. The Victorian-style interior included a bookcase, china cabinet and even musical instruments.

Dr William Gordon Stables was born in Banffshire, Scotland and held an interest in nature and the outdoors from childhood.

In 1862 he graduated in medicine from Aberdeen University and later joined the Royal Navy as an Assistant Ship Surgeon. While serving in Africa he fell ill with Jungle Fever and was sent home to retire on half pay in 1871.

He later married and settled in Twyford, Berkshire, where he began writing books on health and nature along with popular children’s adventure stories.

One day Gordon Stables happened upon a camp of Romany Gypsies and, on inspecting their caravans, decided to build one of his own. This led to him becoming the founding father of modern leisure caravanning.

The Wanderer began touring at a time when the petrol-engined motor car had only just been invented. Consequently, she was not pulled by a motor car like caravans today, but by two horses named Captain Corn-flower and Polly Pea-blossom.

John can only just be seen in this photograph tending to the horses. He was employed as the coachman of The Wanderer and his responsibility was to look after the tow-horses. Like Gordon Stables he had a passion for nature but did not spend his nights camping, instead he slept at the inn which stabled the horses.

Foley the Valet was a young man who had spent several years working for Gordon Stables before he began to tour in The Wanderer. By day, Foley’s task was to cycle in front of the caravan to clear the road ahead. By night he slept in the back cabin of the van along with the washstand and stove.

This stove, made by Ripingilles, was used to cook Gordon Stables’ meals while on tour. Fuelled by paraffin oil, this portable-style stove was a new innovation in the 1880s.