Pitch Up and Carry On

Drawing on rare materials from the Caravan and Motorhome Club Collection, including manufacturers’ records, Club magazines, advertising, photographs and personal accounts, the exhibition, in the Museum’s In Focus Gallery, explores how caravans were adapted for military and civilian purposes at a time of national crisis and how the Club came in aid of its members and people taking up caravanning for the first time. From mobile RAF offices and army briefing rooms to Women’s Land Army accommodation and even air raid shelters, caravans became crucial tools in Britain’s wartime resilience.

When war broke out, The Caravan Club, as it was named then, quickly reacted by decreasing its membership fee and offering practical guidance and remained a key point of contact and community for caravanners across the UK during wartime. Despite restrictions, fuel shortages and the upheaval of evacuation, the Club continued to publish advice, offer support and advocate for the needs of its members. The Club encouraged the ways in which caravans could serve the nation, offering counsel and guidance to government bodies.

Similarly, caravan manufacturers altered their production from leisure vehicles to trailer bodies, supplying the War Office and exploring innovative uses of caravans as first aid posts, mobile canteens and field headquarters. The military responded eagerly, recognising the caravan’s practicality and mobility. Units of the British Army deployed caravans as mobile offices, sleeping quarters and command centres and were quick to appreciate their value in the field.

A special video section in the exhibition features period footage and a reading from the memories of a girl who grew up in a caravan during the war, bringing to life the everyday experiences of caravanners during the 1940s.

Senior Curator, Caravan and Motorhome Club Collection, Sara Riccabone says: “This exhibition, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, sheds light on an overlooked but fascinating chapter of both the Club and wartime history. We are delighted to collaborate with the National Motor Museum in bringing this story to life and showing how caravans, and the community built around them, proved a remarkable resource in a time of need.”

Nick Lomas, Director General at the Caravan and Motorhome Club said, “We are proud to have the Caravan and Motorhome Club's archive Collection preserved at the National Motor Museum. This invaluable resource captures the rich history of a much-loved leisure pursuit, showcasing how caravanning has evolved through the decades. By safeguarding these records, we ensure that future generations can explore and appreciate the heritage, innovation, and enduring appeal of this unique way of life.”.

This exhibition will certainly shed light on a forgotten aspect of caravanning history – a period when the people of Britain pitched in, pitched-up, and carried-on.

To book tickets to experience this unique exhibition, please visit our website.