THE HISTORY
OF
SHEPHERD’S HUTS
Shepherd’s huts have been in use since the 15th century. As the name suggests they were used by sheep farmers in England and France where their popularity reached it peak in the late 19th century.
The shepherd’s hut was primarily used during the lambing season and was pulled by horse to the flock of expectant ewes on the hill side. Usually made by the local blacksmith, the wheels were made from cast iron mounted on a metal chassis. To the front of the hut was a turntable for steering and a draw bar and to the back was a stable door. The roof was usually arched and made from corrugated iron as were the external walls of the hut.
With the onset of of World War I steel was in short supply and wood was used to replace many of the steel components of the hut with exception of the cast iron wheels, axles, turntable plates and curved roof panels.
The insides of these huts were clad in wood with a window to each side so the shepherd could keep an eye on the flock from the warmth of his hut. At the draw bar end of the hut was a raised bed with a space underneath for orphan or sick lambs so that they could be brought in from the cold for special attention.
At the opposite end of the hut next to the stable door was a small log burning stove used for cooking and to heat the hut. There was usually some sort of basic table and seat for the shepherd to eat at.
With the evolution of farming methods the sheep were brought down from the hillsides to lamb making these huts redundant. Usually abandoned at the side of a field or unused corner of a farm yard and left to rot.
In the late 1980’s early 1990’s these huts started to be appreciated as part of agricultural history and were restored.
We like to think our huts recreate the traditional feel of these much loved bits of farming history, with all the modern features that enable these huts to be used and appreciated for future generations to come.
