Jack Hampshire, of Bettenham Manor, Kent, began collecting prams in the 1970s, after realising that the large coach built prams were beginning to disappear. Modern trends of travelling with a baby by car, which began around this time, saw the demise of many of the eminent pram makers of the time in the UK .Jack and his wife Vicky spent many days exploring junk shops and searching out once loved, now neglected carriage prams all over the country.

First and foremost a conservationist, He endeavoured to repair and restore his finds- and what began with just a few carriages , became the largest Baby carriage collection in the world, housed in his Beautiful Fifteenth century manor House at Bettenham, near Biddenden , Kent, England. Bought from the Sackville –West family estate, who had lived at adjacent Sissinghust.

The collection is held in a charitable Trust and has benefited from kind donations of many carriages prams. The trust continues to purchase unusual prams to keep adding to the collection where appropriate.

The aims of the Trust are to advise individuals on their old family pram-and will help you date and name your pram, where possible, and offer any advice you may require. We offer special group tours by arrangement 6 times per year, and have a number of prams which can be hired out for Television and stage use from each era.

If you have any enquiries about anything from above or would like advice about your own Vintage pram please contact:

Janet Rawnsley-(07767 872845)
Heywood Cottage
6 Clifton Street,
Alderley Edge
Cheshire
SK9 7NW

janet.rawnsley@btinternet.com