h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The First Holiday Camp in the UK to provide permanent accommodation, entertainmemt and four meals a day was in the early 1920's. It was situated in Hemsby,Norfolk. Harry Maddieson known as 'Maddy' and his wife created this Holiday Camp which was set in nearly 9 acres of land, a few hundred yards from the beach. It housed a Dinning Hall, Dance hall, Games room with billard Tables and table tennis tables. There were also two bowling greens and four Hard Tennis Courts. Accommodation was provided by various sized hutments with their own verandahs.

Harry gave a plot of land, located in Littlestone, Kent to his son Ray on his 21st Birthday. Ray teamed up with his brother in law, Les Hambridge and they built the next Maddieson's Holiday Camp, which was opened in 1930. By the 1960's there were five Maddieson Holiday Camps and Ray's son Peter (third generation) had joined the team.

This site states that Butlin's was the first Holiday Camp!!

Maddieson Holiday Camps were one of the founder memders of the National Federation of Permanent Holiday Camps (N.F.P.H.C.)

I'd not heard of them before. Are there any Maddieson Holiday Camps left in the UK?

Many thanks for contributing to the Guide by poasting here - it's contributions like yours that help keep the Guide up to date and accurate!

Just a thought - there is currently no article in the Guide about those holiday camps. If you wanted to write an article is would be great!