This Was Their Entire Home? Inside a Showman's Wagon from 1910 | Full Tour

Step inside a rare Showman’s wagon and discover what life was really like living in a home on wheels. In this video, I’m visiting Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings to explore a beautifully preserved Edwardian Showman’s living wagon, built in 1910 for travelling showman Tom Clarke of Redditch. At first glance, it feels like a miniature stately home, with carved wood, painted ceilings and intricate detail, but this was a hard working family home, constantly on the move. As a social historian, I’m always interested in how ordinary people lived, and this is a fascinating glimpse into the daily life of travelling fairground families in Britain. From cooking and sleeping in a confined space, to the realities of earning a living at fairs, this wagon tells the story of a community that is often misunderstood but has a rich and enduring heritage. We’ll also look at: The history of Showmen and travelling fairgrounds in the UK How families lived and worked inside wagons like this The role of fairs in Victorian and Edwardian life Why these beautifully decorated wagons were a symbol of pride and identity How this rare surviving wagon has been carefully restored This video also connects past and present, with insight into the modern Showmen community who continue this way of life today. If you enjoy social history, historic homes, working class history, and hidden museums you’re in the right place. If you’re new here, I’d love to have you along, I share a new video every week exploring the homes and lives of ordinary people throughout history. Please consider subscribing, it really does help me continue to do what I love, bringing the extraordinary stories of ordinary people to life.