Documentary tells the story of caravans

THE British love affair with the caravan goes under the spotlight tonight in a documentary on BBC Four.

Narrated by actress Alison Steadman (pictured), the programme will tell the story of our remarkable love affair with what transformed the holiday habits of generations of British families.

Featuring the evocative memories and the unseen archive of generations of enthusiasts, Caravans – A British Love Affair tells the intriguing story of caravanning in Britain from the 1950s through to the present day.

It reveals how caravans were once the plaything of a privileged minority but after the Second World War went on to become a firm favourite with almost a quarter of British holidaymakers.

The documentary also explores how changes in caravanning across the years reflect wider changes in British society, in particular the increased availability of cars during the 1950s and 60s but also the improved roads network and changing attitudes towards holidaymaking and leisure time.

“The story of caravanning in Britain is actually a revealing social history,” says the director of the documentary, Brian Henry Martin of documentary maker DoubleBand Films. “These ‘homes on wheels’ tell us so much about how attitudes towards holidays and leisure time have evolved in Britain over the past sixty years.”

As the documentary also reveals, for early enthusiasts caravans provided independence and the freedom of the open road - the chance to explore hidden corners of Britain and abroad while keeping their home comforts in tow.

The programme, shown as part of The Joy of Motoring season, was first broadcast on BBC Four on Wednesday night.

Other broadcast dates are:

26 Feb at 02:15
01 Mar at 21:00
02 Mar at 03:15.

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