In 1972 Peter and Norma Sharpe decided to make their hobby into a business by starting to sell caravans in the gardens of their Spanish style bungalow in Irchester Road Rushden, their home giving the firm its name today, (this theme now being strongly used at their Wellingborough Road premises today).

After only three months, commercial premises were needed and the operation moved to Northampton Road where a small portable accessory shop was built and a larger display of caravans shown.

In 1973 an addition site was opened at Earls Barton named Crossroads Caravans. Further expansion followed in 1975 with an outlet in Leciester. This was sold in 1982 when White Arches opened at Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes.

White Arches is very much a family firm despite becoming one of the largest caravan dealers in the country. In 1991 Steve Sharpe, and Peter and Norma's son-in-law, Nick White, became Directors.

The Wellingborough Road premises has unique showrooms devoted to individual manufacturers plus their own brand name, "Archway" which features caravans made exclusively by Swift, and awnings manufactured by Isabella. A large service operation is also housed at Wellingborough Road with a repair body shop as well as service bays. There is a children's play area and a coffee shop.

White Arches sell more than just caravans. There is a large cycle department, a leisure jacket shop and an extensive range of caravan hardware.