Building a Vardo with Joe Birch

Building a Romany Gypsy Vardo

with

Joe Birch

Vardo's were the homes of many Gypsies and were built from memory no fancy plans just done the way it was shown and handed down from father to sons. We are going to show you through pictures how Romany Gypsy Joe Birch built his vardo.

Joe built the Vardo on the site where he and his wife live in Stogursey Summerset.

Lets start at the bottom and work our way up. The wheel (hubs) were called Artillery Wheels and were from WW1. Joe painted them with a bright shade of Red.

Next he made the runners, which were made from American white ash and had to be purchased/ordered from a wood specialist.

He also made the shaft and steering lock from the same wood. The shaft was what the gry (Romany for horse) was tethered to.

The runners and steering lock.

Joe standing beside the shaft.

The wood side panels were made from tongue in groove panels and are what the bow would be attached to. Once the strip ash was attached and completed another layer of tongue in groove was fitted to cover the strip ash making the vardo double lined.

Strip Ash was used to form the bow of the Vardo, chosen for its pliability as it could be bent without snapping.

Once the bow was complete the vardo was ready to have its roof put on. This was made out of green tarpaulin. Once fitted it was then coated with waterproofing which was painted on.

The inside of the Vardo has a two tier bed, the top tier was where the parents would sleep, while underneath the girls of the family would be placed. Boys of the family slept either under the Vardo or in a tent.

To keep warm in winter it has what is called a “pot bellied” stove which the family would collect wood from the area to burn.

There were two seats in the vardo situated opposite each other where the family would sit together. There is also storage space underneath the seating where bed linen, clothes, etc could be stored. A little cupboard is also used to store some of the families needs like plates, bowls, cutlery, etc.

The ceiling is lined with carpet which helps warm the Vardo through the bitter cold winters. The floor was fitted with lino and rugs were added making the vardo homely.

Lighting came from tilly lamps which would be stood on a table, cupboard top, or candles were placed in ornate “swing candle holders” which are fitted to the wood wall lining.

Joe’s wife, Cathay and her daughter Emma Clist did the soft furnishings with Cathay making the curtains and Emma crochet a blanket for the bed which was then decorated with Turkish gold.

On the outside of the Vardo there were two ornate brass “Travel Lamps” which were situated either side of the vardo’s entrance which would help the “Driver” see the roads at night.

At the rear of the vardo was a “Hay Rack” where the Hay for the horses was stored, underneath the vardo was more storage space where the family would store their food supplies including the food for their horses.

INTERESTING FACTS:

Some families had old brass bomb shells from the war which they used to keep hazelnuts they collected for Christmas time.
A trolley would follow behind the families Vardo drawn by another of the families horses which they uses to transport goods, wood collected for the stove or their water churns, As sometimes they had to travel miles to get water for the family. When one of their children married the trolley was then given to them so they could build their own Vardo with it.
The chimney for the stove was positioned on the right side of the Vardo for the UK but was on the Left in Europe, This was so they avoided the roadside trees as the travelled. You could always tell where the vardo came from by what side the chimney was situated.
A “Patrin” was painted at the corners of some of the trolleys and wagons these would be a certain flower or fruit, animals or birds etc each family had their own “Patrin”so the family were easily identified by other Roma Gypsy Families when they met up at the stopping places or camp sites.
The females of the family washed themselves inside the vardo while the males would go outside to the rear of the vardo to wash.

Thank you to Joe and Cathy Birch for the photographs and information for this Special Feature.