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Travellers through time |
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Journeys would not simply be made on a whim, but would follow well-established routes, partially dependent on the seasons. How often gypsies and travellers would return to a place would also depend on what kind of service they were offering; 
The trusty pony - who would swap for a van! |
peg-sellers would return sooner than knife-sharpeners for example, as sharp knives would outlast wooden pegs.
In the 20th Century the travellers and gypsies have seen their traditional work in the fields disappear, with increasing mechanisation, new types of hops which require less intensive work, and the increasing use of Eastern European workers by farmers. The travellers here and elsewhere have been forced to diversify their skills, and today many can be found in such trades as garden-clearance, tarmacing, tree-felling and so on.
The gypsy and traveller community has been an essential part of the Herefordshire labour force for centuries. They took a great pride in their work and had in in-depth knowledge of the fruit they picked. Some of the region’s place-names like Tinkers Corner and Romany Way reveal their long association with the area. 
The family is central to traveller communities
© Photographer unknown, from a collection held at the University of Liverpool Library |
They have contributed to its cultural diversity, and, in the era before good communication networks, they played a vital role in the transmission of information to more rural areas like Herefordshire. Locals would look forward to hearing the stories and news that the travellers would bring with them.
Travellers and gypsies have always occupied a position on the fringe of society, fiercely defending the right to their way of life. The reactions of the settled community to travellers can vary greatly - from fear and suspicion, to envy of their freedom.
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