This is a large encampment situated next to a dual carriageway. The small plot of land inhabits over fifty mobile camper vans and buses, there is a tree house and what appears to be communal areas incorporated into the layout of the space. These travellers seem to have set up long term living arrangements with more substantial development visible on the land. The area itself is contained within a large fence which surrounds the enclosure. When taking these photos there was little sign of the people themselves but obvious effort had been made to secure the space from outside interference. There was a definite atmosphere that made me feel that they did not want to be approached and preferred to be left alone.
The gateway into the encampment showed further signs of more permanent dwellings; the district council rubbish bins and post box signify that the inhabitants may have legally acquired land rights and were more integrated into society, contributing to some extent. They considered themselves residents of a private community as opposed to the more nomadic travellers who move from lay by to lay by.
This smaller dwelling, not far from the larger one above is similar with regard to the sense of a more permanent dwelling. The gate and other structures are not easily disassembled. Being roadside there is visible effort to create some privacy, beyond the space there is a railway behind so that the space is effective secluded. The gate and use of foliage allow the actual habitat to be secluded out of sight yet unlike other encampments I have discovered there is a sense of homeliness and pride. There has been a conscious effort to establish a aesthetically pleasing and warm feel to the space; a gate itself is a restrictive barrier, yet the sunshine emblem detracts from these cold connotations creating a binary; 'we like to keep our land private, but we are friendly...'
This next space is much more temporary than the two above. Situated in a large lay by on a main road. It consists of three vans that could easily be moved at any time. Unlike the other spaces there has been no attempt to prevent access to the space although the positioning of the vans seem to connote an encampment which I would feel reserved about intruding upon. There is however no apparent attempt to uphold any privacy or make claim to the land.
In this camp a great effort has been made to create a warm homely feel, this has been achieved with the use of the trestle fence and the gents sign... Although like the sunshine gate these still function to create privacy but the same friendly sentiment is ensured. This space has been inhabited for as long as I can remember but by different people at different times. The play equipment suggest that there are probably young children resident and I would guess that this is a small family dwelling, unoffensive yet designed to be humble and private. Simply the character of the various furnishings in each case (this one and the sunshine gate) make them seem much more open to outsiders and friendly, something which is purely speculative and make not even be so.
This last example is situated down a green lane, a 'no through road' for vehicles. There is a small farm house and outbuildings at the end of the lane and various spaces being adapted for something or other at the beginning of the track. Although within walking distance from the town this area is the most secluded from public roads and pathways of all of these dwellings. The path is used by persons on foot alone as a shortcut from local villages into the town. The space did not have such a friendly feel due to large metal fences and barbed wire; symbollic of 'get out, private...'
This message 'pay ur debts paine' refers to a local man of the town who is accused of owing money, this is the second public notice of the accusation and apart from being oddly placed suggests that the person in question is living nearby but also enforces the cold unfriendly aspect of the place. I did not feel comfortable spending much time here as it seemed I was intruding and would be met with aggression if seen. This is also speculative and may not be the case in reality.
