Latest News
30th May - Interview with Old Glory Magazine - the specialist publication for steam engines and related vehicles, including Showman's Wagons.
31st May - Interview on Radio Solent. Not at all media savvy so hope people didn't find it too excruciating!
1st June - Our 1st wagon is ready to leave the yard! Hopefully, subject to arranging a tractor driver, we will be sending our wagon off to Studland for its photoshoot within the next few days. Ideally Sunday morning, early! Its' going to Studland Cricket Ground in the gardens of Studland Bay House where it will stay for the next 2 or 3 weeks for its formal launch on the 14th June with local landowners, hoteliers and organisations like the National Trust invited. It was due to be opened by Richard Drax, MP for South Dorset, but he has since been told he must attend the House for voting on the EU Withdrawal Bill and has therefore had to cancel unfortunately.
A 2nd, more informal launch will be held on the 17th June (Sunday) and we hope to see plenty of people who might simply be curious to have a look round. Open from 12pm with road side signage, Studland Cricket Ground overlooks the Isle of Wight at Knoll Beach. If the weather is kind it should prove a lovely day out.
December 2019 - The National Trust has aquired one of our wagons for holiday let in Studland in Dorset. We are advised that it is the most successful holiday let on the Isle of Purbeck with back to back bookings from July onwards and even now is attracting winter bookings at £135/night! Exceeding our own estimations of return this indicates that a Showman's Wagon is an excellent investment with little or no seasonal downturn.
Showman's Wagon with the National Trust
March 2020 - we expand into the vacant unit next door and almost immediately the Covid pandemic strikes! However, we are the busiest we have been for about 5 years on the joinery side of the business and additionally receive orders for both a new wagon and restorations.
June 2020 - our landlord allows us to fence off the rear of our units to form a yard - at last we can move wagons nearing completion outside. The 1st of our new Canford wagons nears completion, Completely built in our workshop this one - is based upon the ex-Gifford's 'Circus sauce' wagon we own ourselves - just twice as long and with a balcony.
