I suppose any word in the English language can over time change its meaning, for example decimate = kill one in every ten of (a group of people, originally a mutinous Roman legion) as a punishment for the whole group. Now it means get rid of nearly everything.
So we have to look at official documents to get the meaning, so BS7671 for example lays out what electrical supplies are required with a caravan, and this does not include a mobile home or tent, however does include a motor caravan.
Fred Dibner's caravan not included as no electric but clearly a caravan, and it would also include a caravan which is assembled on site, so has to include a trailer tent.
"habitation" seems to be the magic word, and it would seem to be habitable a home must have a set number of items which include hot and cold running water, drains, heating, lighting, and electrical supply, and as an electrician I was required to leave a home habitable, or find alternative accommodation although it did not say who had to pay for the alternative.
So it does raise some questions, if the caravan it taken to a site where you can mains water plumbed into the caravan and waste water including the toilet is taken away, plus an electric supply it would seem it is no longer a caravan.
As yet not seen where the toilet is plumbed in on a touring caravan site? So easiest thing seems to be, it needs wheels and the toilet must not be plumbed in if considered as a caravan.
So a caravan would not be considered by local council as habitable, and it has wheels.
Quote: Originally posted by romany girl on 19/4/2019
If you take a look at the type of wagon often pulled by a Steam traction engine, that often forms the basic accomodation for the driver and engineer, it looks nothing like a caravan. More like a gaurds van off the railway. These indeed had a built in undercover verandah, was constructed mainly of timber, and had wheels similar to the traction unit itself, be that Railway wheels or those similar to the steam traction engine itself.
Fred Dibner was a great fan of these, and spent his last few weeks before he sadly passed away, touring around the UK in one, with his son driving the traction engine that pulled it.
The caravans that transversed the desserts in convoy were nothing more than a canvas tent lashed over hoops on a horse pulled dray, a primitive form of the Horse drawn Romany gypsy caravans of times gone by.
Julia
On a pedantic note, the caravan was the complete convoy, not the individual elements of it.
They travelled together in a caravan for safety
If a static is permanently located, it is then subject to council tax! Is a static permanent as it can be moved at any time? Park home is more permanent!
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: What is a "caravan"?
