When you picture gypsies of the past, do you picture them travelling in their gaudily painted horse-drawn caravans or vardo’s? In truth, this form of transport is a relatively modern invention, and the gypsy people generally sheltered in ‘bender’ tents, using donkeys and carts to transport and carry their tents and their belongings from place to place. A bender tent is formed from a covering of tarpaulin placed over flexible branches, usually willow or hazel, which are staked into the ground, a crude but very effective form of shelter.
For this reason, it was common for these people to ‘overwinter’ in lodgings in towns and cities rather than camp in the very coldest months. Sometimes though, they did find themselves living in their tents during the freezing temperatures. On the evening of the 17th February, 1820, in the Lincolnshire countryside, a boy was born in such a tent in…
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First Night History 
I know Wellingore well, as I have a friend who lives there. At the risk of appearing to be politically incorrect, I do not have a lot of time for ‘travellers.’ Sorry, but that’s being honest. Here is my non-correct take on the subject. https://redflagflying.wordpress.com/2013/08/10/the-gipsy-myth/
It was interesting historically though.
Best wishes, Pete.
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That’s a coincidence; the only places I know are Lincoln and Stamford. As for your view of travellers, I won’t use this platform to persuade you to another point of view!
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