HISTORY OF CASTLETON CARAVANS

In 1952 the founder of the Castleton caravan company Mr Les Bennett who ran a grocery business called 'Castleton Stores' in Sherborne together with his wife, decided to buy a caravan. Not knowing anything at all about caravans the bought a 22 footer and then decided to join the Caravan Club.

At that time the Caravan Club would visit potential new members to inspect their caravan. After answering several questions it became obvious that they were not eligible to join the Caravan Club.

After using their new found hobby for about 6 months and having found out much more about caravans Les said to his wife "I think I could build a caravan". All through the next winter they made various drawings and so on. By May 1953 they started, first with the chassis, making it in the sideway of the shop.

Next they were lucky to find an old shed with a dirt floor and a corrugated iron roof, so they were in business. Every evening and each weekend it was work and more work but gradually the masterpiece grew. By September the caravan was complete and ready for painting which was trusted to a local spraying firm. The new caravan was collected when finished and then taken to a local weighbridge to check the weight, and then for the shock, it weighed over 40 cwts.(two Tons). Again they couldn't join the Caravan Club.

In 1954 a builders Yard next to the shop came up for sale and by June it was bought. There was a 60ft. x 22ft. Nissen hut and other buildings on the site,the Nissen hut was ideal for building another caravan.

Les bought an old Snack Bar caravan 10ft. long,stripped it down and built a 3 berth 11ft. x 6ft. 6ins. caravan on the chassis and this weighed only 14cwts.so they could join the Caravan Club at last. Following a National Club rally near Worcester where the caravan won first prize in the Best Amatuer Van competition the Bennetts returned to Sherborne thinking that building caravans was a better life than running a grocer's shop. The shop was put up for sale and caravan building commenced with a larger model of 15ft. 6ins.

When the shop was sold the new caravan became the Bennett's home for 13 months.The next venture was to build some 18ft. static caravans and to place them on a site, and to let them out in the summer to try to make enough money to live on. A site was found and the owner asked what make of caravans we had in mind, he was told that they would be home made. It was arranged for the site owner to visit Sherborne to inspect a caravan and this took place after six weeks (these were 7 day weeks and 16 hour days).

The site owner then ordered six caravans, at last Castleton Caravans was in business. Times were hard with long hours but when the six caravans were complete they were given an order for another six. When these were finished another order for six more arrived. During the making of these 18 caravans the total workforce comprised of Les and his wife. Caravan building came to an abrupt halt when the site was sold and the new owner would not order any more Castleton Caravans.

Following the attendance of several club rallies Les could see a need for a good class Clubman's caravan and decided to build a 14ft. 6ins. x 4 berth model, this he called the 'Roadster', and this was sold direct to the public at £375. Following an advert in the 'Caravan' and the 'Modern Caravan' an order for two came in and an application was made to obtain National Caravan Council approval which was granted in 1957.

The 'Castleton' name was gradually built up within the Caravan Club and in September 1959 the company had a stand at the very first caravan exhibition at Earls Court. By this time the company had grown to two carpenters,Les and his wife and it did not need many sales at the exhibition to fill the whole of the following years production.

From these early days the company grew as they took on extra staff and were showing every year at the caravan show either at Earls Court or Olympia.

In 1961 the company moved to the Tinneys Lane premises where it remained until it closed down in 1995 and in the latter years the son of Mr. & Mrs. Bennett, Len had joined the company and finally took up the reins in 1969. The company ceased to sell direct but used the services of selected agents in various parts of the country.

Whilst manufacture ceased in 1995 the club maintains close contacts with the original Castleton principals.

There is an occasional Technical Guide in the Newsletter that is circulated to all Members. Subject to the Club Disclaimer as listed on the home page, we will also try to assist Non-Members with technical queries.

If you require more information please E-Mail us at:
john@jackson4843.fslife.co.uk