Gypsy family and their Bender tent on Mitcham Common
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| Partial / Incomplete Date | 1881 |
|---|---|
| Area | Mitcham |
| Copyright 1 | F Wratten, Croydon Camera Club |
| Picture Reference | Mit_Gypsies_T19 |
| Original Format | Photo |
| Notes / History | When this photo was taken in 1881, only 35 of the 231 Travellers living on Mitcham Common were owners of caravans or covered wagons, the vast majority were still camping in bender tents. Benders are rounded structures made from a rough framework of flexible hazel rods. Blankets or sailcloth was then pinned over the top to provide cover from the elements. |
