Gypsies of the new century

They were British urban youth who were imbued with the spirit of punk, the philosophy of anarchism and hatred of Margaret Thatcher. They climbed on old rickety carts and cars, exchanging the charms of the modern world for the freedom of nomads. 

And although the nomads of the new century have adopted the philosophy and carried it even further, preferring to use traditional horse-drawn carts instead of cars, they still do not disdain such amenities as mobile phones, laptops and even Facebook. In the late 1980s and 1990s, stories about these travelers were found everywhere – illegal riots, clashes with the police, drugs and rage.

Many families, including this Delaney family, have traded cars for horse-drawn carts. These photos were taken from a book in the 1990s, when middle-class English youth, to the horror of their well-to-do parents, were fascinated by romantic ideas of independence from any rules and restrictions. Having got motor vans, the young people went to meet adventures in order to fully breathe in the spirit of freedom and equality 

These photos were taken in the late 80s and early 90s. In this photo you can see Corina and Anarchi Rose.

And this is Dave.

Taking as a basis the lifestyle of traditional gypsies, many travelers of the new century exchanged their cars for horse-drawn carts.

"It all started in 1986 with New Age gypsies who traveled on motorcycles. They called themselves the"Peace Convoy". I also saw them at Stonehenge in 2001, " says photographer Ian McKell.

"To my surprise, I saw in this new tribe both traditions, for example, horse carts, and innovations of modern life – mobile phones and even Facebook."

"I liked the idea of how the old and the new get along together on the road." On the photo: Beanie.

In this van lives one of the travelers of the new century named Brioni.

Ian McKell took the first photos of the "new gypsies" 25 years ago. Since then, he has spent a lot of time with them and made friends among the gypsies of the new century.

Since then, he has decided to follow the evolution of this direction. People from all social strata of society were attracted by the romantic lifestyle of travelers, their freedom and disobedience to established rules.

"For me, this is a personal journey," says the photographer. – I am interested in the fact that these people do not have their own history, like real gypsies. But they chose to live by the road, with horses and traditional wagons."

Among these people there are also children of wealthy parents who have decided to exchange the charms of modern life for the romance of nomadic behavior.

Why not romance?

A young man who looks more like a character in a Charles Dickens novel, against the background of vans. One of the early photos of Ian McKelly.

The gypsies of the new century, Nigel and Angie, are somewhere in the hinterlands of rural Great Britain.

And here is the photographer Ian McKelly himself.

And this is the cover of his new book "New Gypsies".