Time for a holiday

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If you’re going on holiday, what better way to travel than with a pre-war motor home (in different parts of the world otherwise known as RV, Motor-caravan, camper or Reisemobil). Although there were earlier attempts at building a motor home, in the UK it really started when the Riley family, Bill sr. and Bill jr., took over the Eccles Motor Transport Co. just after the Great War. Gradually they phased out the transport business and in the early 1920's they began building towing caravans and motor homes. The latter were mostly one-offs, built according to the customers wishes. They could be supplied on a wide variety of chassis, for example Ford, Bedford, Albion, AEC, or as in this picture, on a Morris (click for enlargement). These motor homes were very complete, with beds, seats, tables, washbasins and even toilets. Quite a number were built by Eccles before World War II, although no production numbers are known. After the war no more motor homes were built by Eccles. The Eccles motor homes were of a really fine quality, but we’re not sure if any survived. (Watercolour by F.T. Steerwood; collection John Steerwood sr.) (RB)

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