About The Flat Bed Dray

This was a light, elaborately built wagon. It was boat-shaped with fairly shallow side planks or paneling. Most were fitted with a detachable canvas tilt or hood. They originally used to transport potteries that the Gypsies hawked around the country. The sides of some of the older makes are built of open-work spindle framing, but those made in later years have solid rib-and-matchboard sides. Like the living wagon, a pot cart has a pan-box and a spindle cratch at the back. The tilt is of heavy canvas on a bowed wood frame slotted into the sides of the cart. It has no interior fittings. Traditionally it has been used by Gypsies for extra sleeping accommodation and for carrying provisions and gear. The wagon bed was normally 6ft long by 3ft 10in wide with vertical side boards about 10in high all around.