Allens Caravans is a thriving family business that has come a long way since its foundation in the mid-1930s and we're proud of the excellent reputation we have amongst our customers and our colleagues.
We moved from the Black Country to our present day headquarters, Wootton Hall, in the late 1950s. In the early 1960s the company's founder, Bill Allen, visited America to look at the caravan industry. There he realised how popular and prestigious it was for so many Americans to live in residential caravans (Park Homes) and use leisure caravans (Caravan Holiday Homes) for weekend retreats.
Following his trip, Bill Allen was convinced the same would happen in the UK and from then on, caravan sales overtook the company's main business of car sales. A little while later, with the acquisition of caravan parks, the Allens Caravans you know today was established.
Discover Our History
Allens Caravans have been established for over 80 years. Explore the journey below from our small and humble beginnings to the seven beautiful parks we manage today.
Allens was born as Allens Auto, selling cars in Wolverhampton. Caravans were introduced to forecourt just to fill some space – and they took off!
1940: Wootton Hall
After the success of caravan sales, Bill Allen establishes Allens Caravans in 1947. He leases space in the grounds of Wootton Hall and begins siting caravans there.
1940: Siting caravans started
Siting caravans has started at Wootton Hall
1950: Wootton Hall
Bill Allen purchases the grounds of Wootton Hall from the estate owners in 1956, followed by the entire estate in 1957. He moves Allens Caravans’ main office to the Hall, where it remains to this day.
1950: 1st Caravan Exhibition
Allens Caravans holds the first Midlands Caravan Exhibition at Wootton Hall in 1957. This would become an annual event and a major part of the caravan and holiday industry in the UK.
1960: Bigger Things
Bill Allen visits the USA and sees the potential in large static caravans as both holiday homes and full-time residential living.
1960: Wootton Park renamed ‘The Retreat’
In 1962 one of the drives at Wootton Park was named ‘The Retreat’ and was home to several static homes. This included Europe’s largest and most expensive mobile home, also named ‘The Retreat’. This 36ftx10ft home cost £1875 to build and was manufactured by Allens Caravans.
1960: Relaxing at ‘The Retreat’
Relaxing in front of the pioneering 'The Retreat'.
1960: More Parks Join the Company
Through the 1960s Allens Caravans expanded, adding Rayford Holiday Park (at Stratford upon Avon – no longer owned by Allens), Pendeford Hall Mobile Home Park (Wolverhampton) and our first coastal site, Sunbeach Holiday Park in North Wales.
1960: Sunbeach
Sunbeach in the 1960s with a Snowdonia backdrop.
1970: Severn in the ‘Seventies
As the demand for caravan holidays continues to boom, Allens Caravans buys Severnside Holiday Park at Stourport on Severn.
1980: More Names in the Family
Through the decade Allens Caravans both acquires existing parks and builds brand new ones. These include Abbot’s Salford (near Evesham) and Broadway residential park (in the Cotswolds, no longer owned by Allens).
1986: First dig at Overstone
First dig at Overstone – with Neil and Bill Allen
2000: Floods hit the country
In 2007 central England suffered some of the worst floods ever recorded in the area’s history. In the aftermath, a large investment at Abbot’s Salford saw a new clubhouse built on flood-proof stilts.
2008: £1.5m Clubhouse constructed
Abbot’s Salford’s new £1.5m clubhouse standing high.
2010: New Dawn for Sunbeach
The clubhouse at Sunbeach in North Wales had served us well, but we could see room for investment and improvement. We extended the clubhouse to include a large indoor pool and splash area – perfect for those colder, wetter days on the Welsh coast!
2010: Golf, anyone?
Allens Caravans purchases the Great Comberton Golf Club near Pershore, Worcestershire in 2015. While nothing happens here immediately, great plans are set in motion.
2010: A Second Home in Wales
In 2017 Allens Caravans acquired Glan-Y-Mor Caravan Park near Aberystwyth. This established site already has a bowling alley, indoor pool, two bars and much, much more.
2015: Sunbeach Complex complete
Sunbeach complex complete with indoor pool, splash area, games room, bar and restaurant.
2017: Glan-Y-Mor on the beach front
Glan-Y-Mor on the beach front.
2020: The Lap of Luxury
After five years of planning and two years of redevelopment, Great Comberton Golf Club is reborn and reopened in 2021 as Bredon View Holiday Park Estate, featuring over 80 plots surrounded by natural beauty in a riverside setting.
2020: New Name and New Style
After huge investment and two years of building work, Glan-Y-Mor is renamed Aber Bay. In the spring of 2023, a new eco-friendly clubhouse is opened, including an indoor pool warmed by a water-source heat pump. This is the biggest single investment made in a park in nearly 80 years of Allens Caravans history.
Paul
SALES DIRECTOR
Director of sales across all seven of our parks.
Alison
RECEPTIONIST
A member of our reception team, greeting customers at Head Office.
Angela
RECEPTIONIST
A member of our reception team, greeting customers at Head Office.
Steve
GROUNDS MAINTENANCE
Who works as part of Ground Maintenance, at our Head Office, part of Wootton Hall Residential Park.
The owners of Allens Caravans are not just faceless names, but working Directors who can be found either at the Head Office or in the parks, continuing to run the company. To this day Allens Caravans remains a family business, and now runs with the help of a fourth generation of the family working in our company.
Since then we have gone from strength to strength, developing parks throughout the country. In line with our growth we have an ever-increasing team and our present staff of more than one hundred offer a firm professional base, including a work and sales force covering all allied trades. Allens' record speaks for itself as we are one of the country's top Caravan Park operators and dealers, supplying caravans from all leading manufacturers.
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