This living van is understood to have been built by Burrells for the local Thetford contractor Dorans Brothers. It is identical to the van currently in the Burrell museum.

The van had been saved by Billie Bird. He had been visiting the Worsted fair in June 2004 and a gentleman, a Mr. Pilgrim was offering a living van for sale. Mr Pilgrim senior had originally bought it for use as a shepherds hut. He owned a farm and slaughter house at Banham, near Thetford.

When she was collected by Billie Bird. You can just see the contractors plate beneath the window. (Billie Bird Collection)

The van was in a very poor condition but Billie took it home. Part of the tin roof was missing at the rear and this had caused a lot of rot but were the roof had remained intact was in a good state. It has a small ‘porch’ with inward opening door leading to the main living space with what would have been two bunks at the end, storage locker, cupboard, table and room for a large stove. A separate compartment was in the rear fitted with two shelves and obviously used for loose coal since there are shutter boards with runners fitted across the rear doorway.

The front wheels are the same as Burrell straw elevator. The rears are cast and you can clearly see the lining still on them.

Billie had started work on the restoration of the front fore carriage and rear axle. All the exterior boards had been removed and an assessment of the framework made - which to renew and which to repair. Billie bought all the timber for the frame but decided that he was not going to complete the work and sold it to a neighbour, Mr. Ollie Owen for use behind his Burrell. Things were not to be, Ollie had to move and therefore it had to be sold. And this is how she came to be re-united with Monarch.

Getting it home was not easy. We wanted to record and preserve as much as possible so she was wrapped up for the long journey home - complete with police escort some of the way - either curious or keen something just might fly off at some point.

At home in the shed. The 'extra' timbers were strung in place to stop her collapsing.

Some initial pictures of before work started.

	The roof interior with central spline.
	The outside was originally clad with tin sheets over the timber.
	The rear axle.
	The rear of the front fore-carriage

 It is coming along and I'll add some more photos of the work as it progresses.