In 1906, John Fletcher Dodd, a former grocer and president of the Bedford Adult School, arrived in Great Yarmouth with his wife to establish a local branch of the Independent Labour Party (ILP). Founded in 1893 to represent the working classes, the ILP promoted values of comradeship, friendship, and leisure. Having made a comfortable profit from his grocery business, Dodd acquired Hill Farm in Caister and set up 150 army bell tents, launching what he called the Caister Socialist Camp. Advertisements promised “a simple life, vegetarians provided for, all work shared, all profits for the cause.” The camp aimed to provide “healthy, vigorous, self-improving holidays” for working-class men and, later, women.
Three meals a day were served in a large barn, with a separate club room available for “reading, writing or smoking.” The camp proved an immediate success, charging a rate of one guinea (21s), with children admitted at half price. Dodd, his wife, and their two children lived on-site in a house known as Hill House.
By 1908, the camp’s turnover had risen to £800, with Dodd publishing all the accounts for public scrutiny. The camp now boasted “the finest waterproof tents, spring beds, and special accommodation for ladies.” The following year, a larger dining hall was constructed, and guests were offered recreational facilities including tennis and croquet.
Dodd enforced a number of strict rules at the camp: no alcohol, no babies, and no loud talking after 11 p.m. Guests were expected to help with chores and be punctual for meals, while bathing costumes had to meet specific guidelines. Anyone accused of “rowdy conduct or improper language” faced expulsion, and fines could be imposed for untidy accommodation. Attendance at political discussions and debates in the lecture hall was strongly encouraged.
By 1912, the camp had severed its formal ties with the ILP following a disagreement, and Dodd began transitioning to a more commercial operation, relaxing most of the earlier rules. The weekly rate of 21 shillings remained, but wooden huts were introduced at 25 shillings a week.
During the 1920s, the camp expanded across the street toward the beach as space ran out. Many tents were replaced with wooden huts, along with some converted tram car bodies. Weekly rates had risen to two guineas a week.
By the 1930s, the camp had grown significantly, accommodating up to a thousand campers. Most of the site was now situated on the east side of the main road, although the original west side camp remained in use.
In 1933, a huge new dance hall opened at the camp, described as “the finest in the country,” with space for 600 dancing couples. The camp even had its own railway station, Caister Camp Halt. Tragically, in 1938, a holidaymaker was struck and killed by a train near the station. The railway line eventually closed in 1959.
During the Second World War, the camp was requisitioned by the military and used to house Italian prisoners of war.
Mrs Dodd died in 1944, and shortly afterwards Mr Dodd retired to Tunbridge Wells, where he passed away in November 1952. In his will, he left £30,000 to family friend Dora Adams “in recognition of the kindness, care and attention given to me and my late wife.”
His son, Jack Dodd, continued to run the original camp, and the following year he opened a new 16-acre site next door called Silver Springs.
Caister Holiday Camp is sold
What happened next is unclear, but by 1958 both camps had fallen into the hands of the official receiver. They were subsequently acquired by local businessman Tom Watson, who immediately scrapped the old rules. Under his management, both camps became hugely successful.
Watson went on to build his Caister Group into the largest holiday company in East Anglia, operating three hotels in Great Yarmouth—the Cavendish, Metropolitan, and New Beach—alongside seven holiday parks, a large fleet of Norfolk Broads rental boats, and several car dealerships.
During the 1960s, the camp saw numerous improvements and additions, including a heated swimming pool, larger dining rooms, and new brick chalets. Although most of the camp had shifted to the east side of the road, the original west side continued to be used for storage and staff accommodation.
Caister Holiday Camp becomes a Ladbroke park
In 1972, Godfrey Davis made a surprise £5.5 million bid for the Caister Group, but were outbid by Ladbrokes, who offered £6 million. Ladbrokes sold off the hotels and car dealerships but retained six holiday parks, including Caister and Silver Springs, rebranding them to form their new Ladbrokes Holidays division. The company went on to acquire several more holiday parks around the country.
In 1974, a large cabaret venue known as Neptune’s Palace opened, attracting many of the era’s top performers. The venue was eventually demolished and replaced in 2011. The camp also featured two other evening entertainment spaces. During the 1970s, a small corner of the site was sold for housing, resulting in the construction of Dodd’s Close, named in memory of the original owners.
During the mid-1980s, Ladbrokes merged Silver Springs into the main Caister camp. With land prices rising, they sold off a few parcels of property to cash in. The first was the plot across the street where the original 1906 camp had stood, including Dodd’s old home; everything was demolished, and the site is now occupied by housing – search out Royal Thames Road. Another section of the Silver Springs site was also sold for housing – search out Webster Way.
Caister Holiday camp becomes a Haven park
In 1987, Ladbrokes sold all their holiday parks to Mecca Leisure, the owners of Warner’s Holiday Camps, for £55 million. Most of the sites, including Caister, were rebranded under the Warner’s name. In 1990, Mecca Leisure was acquired by Rank Leisure, owners of Butlins and Haven, prompting another rebranding, this time under the Haven name.
In 1992, the adjoining Caister Beach caravan park was purchased by Haven and merged into the existing camp.
The park remains open today under Haven’s ownership. Most of the old chalets have been demolished, and the site is now almost entirely composed of caravans, apart from some luxury Deck Houses. The former outdoor pool has been rebuilt as an indoor facility, and several 1960s buildings remain in use, albeit extensively altered. Today, Caister holds the distinction of being the oldest holiday park in the country.
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