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| Industry | Automotive |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1948; 76 years ago (1948) in Bristol, United Kingdom |
| Founder | Martin Bailey |
| Headquarters | Bristol, United Kingdom |
| Area served | United Kingdom, Turkey, New Zealand and South Korea |
| Products | Caravans, motorhomes and campervans |
| Number of employees | 650 |
| Website | www |
Bailey of Bristol is a British manufacturer of leisure vehicles, including touring caravans, motorhomes and campervans.
Bailey of Bristol was founded in Bristol, England, in 1948. The company's main manufacturing plant is located at South Liberty Lane in South Bristol. The company also operates the Large Panel Laminating Plant in Clevedon, North Somerset, which produces the caravan and motorhome body shell panels. In addition, its subsidiary business, PRIMA Leisure, which is located in North Bristol, manufactures parts for Bailey vehicles as well as commercial leisure accessories.
History
Company beginning (1948)
Bailey of Bristol was founded by Martin Bailey, who built the first Bailey caravan in his South Bristol garage in 1947, selling it at Ashton Gate market for £200.
A year later in 1948, F.G Bailey Ltd was formed and began production. After the Second World War, when caravan popularity increased dramatically due to its usage as a form of temporary accommodation, Bailey released a range of models to meet demand.
1950-2000
In the 1950s, Bailey outgrew its original site on Bedminster Road and moved to South Liberty Lane, where it still operates from today.
In 1977, Patrick and Stephen Howard purchased the company. The company remains under the ownership of the Howard family.
By the early 1980s, Bailey had purchased the sections of industrial land on either side of the original South Liberty Lane site in order to increase production volume.
During the 1980s, the company began producing the Pageant and Senator ranges, which remained in its caravan model line up for over 25 years.
2000-2023
During the recession in the mid-2000s, Bailey responded to the event by expanding its production facility and focusing on product diversification.
In 2011, the first Bailey motorhome was launched – the Approach SE. Using the same award-winning design principals as Bailey caravans, this range established Bailey within the motorhome market.
In 2012, as part of her Diamond Jubilee Tour, Her Late Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh visited Bailey of Bristol and toured the factory.
In 2016, Bailey Parts & Accessories registered as a separate company and moved from the South Liberty Lane site to its own premises just off of the M4/M5 Interchange in North Bristol. In 2019, Bailey Parts & Accessories changed its name to PRIMA Leisure.
In the same year, Bailey opened its new Replenishment Centre on the South Liberty Lane site along with a Large Panel Laminating Plant at Clevedon to increase manufacturing capacity.
In 2023, Bailey launched its first campervan range, the Endeavour.
References
- "BBC News - Why more Brits are buying caravans". BBC News. 14 December 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
- "Caravans and the Second World War". The Caravan Club. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- "BBC News - Queen and Prince Philip visit Bristol caravan firm". BBC News.