Park delights nostalgia lovers & maintains gold standard
Lovers of historic touring caravans will be heading to Silverdale, the popular south Cumbrian holiday park and flagship site of the Holgate empire, which comprises five other parks amid the Cumbrian and Lancashire countryside.
The reason? Well, one of the rarest caravan models – a 1960 Holgate Silver Wren – has been fully restored by the park’s owners, just one way to help mark the company’s diamond anniversary.
Only a few hundred Silver Wrens were built and with its hand-crafted interior, the caravan took touring down a new road of refinement for those who could afford its £820 price tag.
The Holgate family started off as caravan manufacturers, becoming early pioneers of touring caravan design and manufacture during the 1950s. Michael Holgate, who now runs the business, says of the restoration: “You don’t have to be a caravan buff to appreciate the workmanship involved in making this model look exactly as it would have to a customer over half a century ago. All of the Silver Wren’s original internal features are in place and look as good as new, from the gas mantles to the timber and brass fittings, all set alongside authentic period fabrics.”
The restoration was carried out by specialists Lucy Jayne’s Vintage Caravan Workshop in West Sussex and the Wren is being displayed at multi-award-winning Silverdale for the rest of 2016.
Now plans are afoot to restore a second Silver Wren, which has been bought off a farmer on the Scottish Borders, in whose barn it had been languishing for years.
In 2016, Silverdale Holiday Park is marking its 60th year under the Holgate family’s ownership. It has won many awards over the decades, including being crowned Park of the Year by Cumbria Tourist Board in 2014. Again this year, David Bellamy presented the park with his prestigious conservation award at its top gold level, thanks to its raft of environmental initiatives.
For those who know Silverdale, you’ll be aware of its many attractions. For anyone who doesn’t, there is a superb leisure centre, including swimming pool complex with spa and sauna, professional gymnasium and a newly-opened American-style computerised bowling alley; other new additions include a revamped children’s soft-play zone and extensions to the cafe/restaurant and bar.
The park is also ideally placed for exploring surrounding areas of scenic beauty, and for enjoying a wide range of outdoor activities from cycling and walking to watersports and pony trekking.
Silverdale Holiday Park provides 500 luxury caravan holiday homes to rent and to own, as well as comfortable timber-built glamping pods for hire. Camping guests as well as owners of touring caravans and motorhomes are also made welcome.
More information:
Holgates Holiday Park Silverdale
Middlebarrow Plain
Cove Road
Silverdale
Lancashire LA5 0SH
Tel: 01524 701508