National Motor Museum Trust, Beaulieu, commemorating centenary of World War1
The National Motor Museum Trust, Beaulieu, is commemorating the centenary of the First World War in a new temporary display, Caravans and Charabancs – Leisure Motoring after the First World War. Created as part of a two-year First World War commemorative project, the display has been developed in partnership with The Caravan Club and supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).
Arriving at the Museum for Easter 2015 this fascinating new display coincides with a major new exhibition at the National Motor Museum, A Chequered History, which takes you into the adrenalin-fuelled world of motor sport.
Caravans & Charabancs explores how social and technological developments during the devastating conflict of the First World War led to a revolution in leisure motoring in the decade that followed. Highlights include a re-display of three vehicles including the Museum’s popular 1926 Eccles caravan and 1922 Maxwell charabanc, an early form of the motor coach, alongside previously unseen images from the Museum’s Designated Photographic Collection and that of The Caravan Club.
“While developing this display we uncovered a wealth of information exploring the huge impact which the First World War had on the motor industry,” explains Angela Willis, Curator of The Caravan Club Collection. “We have pieced together this information and are delighted to be sharing it for the first time, alongside a wealth of photographs and other items from our fantastic Collections.”
The National Motor Museum’s Director of Collections Andrea Bishop said: “This temporary exhibition complements our new permanent displays and has enabled the National Motor Museum to look at selected areas of its collections in a different way. We have been truly surprised by the stories that have been revealed, and look forward to sharing them with our visitors.”
To find out more visit www.beaulieu.co.uk or follow the Caravans & Charabancs project on Twitter @caraandchara
