Shepherd's hut

Last updated

Shepherd's hut in Loch Ewe The 'Shepherd's Hut' - geograph.org.uk - 927310.jpg
Shepherd's hut in Loch Ewe

The shepherd's hut (or shepherd's wagon) was, since the 15th century [1] and into the 20th century, used by shepherds during sheep raising and lambing, primarily in the United Kingdom and France. [2] Shepherd's huts often had iron wheels and corrugated iron tops. Sometimes the sides were also made of corrugated iron.[ citation needed ]

Contents

Background

Derelict hut in the parkland at Hanbury Hall Hanbury Hall Park - shepherd's hut.jpg
Derelict hut in the parkland at Hanbury Hall
Shepherd's hut near Gunstone Shepherd's Hut - geograph.org.uk - 522361.jpg
Shepherd's hut near Gunstone

Use of shepherd's huts by farmers reached a peak in the late 19th century and dwindled in the 20th century with the advent of mechanised farm machinery and electric power reaching even remote farms. Their use persisted in some northern counties in the United Kingdom, particularly Westmoreland and Northumberland, where the terrain of the uplands supports little else but sheep farming.[ citation needed ]

There have been numerous different materials used to construct shepherd's huts and after World War I, when metal was in short supply the chassis were often built with wood and the sides built with interlocking planks of larch or spruce. Sometimes the roof covering would be constructed from felt and tar and insulated with lambswool. Cast iron wheels were frequently recycled from other farm machinery. There are now very few examples of the later 20th century shepherd's huts in the county of Westmorland which became Cumbria in 1974.[ citation needed ]

The shepherd's hut was a kitchen, dining room, bedroom, sitting room and storeroom all rolled into one. The designs vary but all were constructed to provide the shepherd with practical and durable accommodation. The old huts had a stove in one corner for warmth and cooking, and a window on each side so the shepherd could see the flock. A hinged stable door, which was always positioned away from the prevailing wind, enabled him to hear the flock, and strong axles with cast iron wheels were used to withstand the constant movement from field to field. [3]

Shepherds huts are still in use today, but primarily as glamping accommodation, or as an alternative to a summer house, shed or workshop.[ citation needed ]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Recreational vehicle</span> Types of vehicles

A recreational vehicle, often abbreviated as RV, is a motor vehicle or trailer that includes living quarters designed for accommodation. Types of RVs include motorhomes, campervans, coaches, caravans, fifth-wheel trailers, popup campers, and truck campers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transhumance</span> Type of pastoralism

Transhumance is a type of pastoralism or nomadism, a seasonal movement of livestock between fixed summer and winter pastures. In montane regions, it implies movement between higher pastures in summer and lower valleys in winter. Herders have a permanent home, typically in valleys. Generally only the herds travel, with a certain number of people necessary to tend them, while the main population stays at the base. In contrast, horizontal transhumance is more susceptible to being disrupted by climatic, economic, or political change.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nissen hut</span> Prefabricated steel hut

A Nissen hut is a prefabricated steel structure originally for military use, especially as barracks, made from a half-cylindrical skin of corrugated iron. It was designed during the First World War by the Canadian-American-British engineer and inventor Major Peter Norman Nissen. It was used also extensively during the Second World War and was adapted as the similar Quonset hut in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mobile home</span> Prefabricated structure attached to a chassis

A mobile home is a prefabricated structure, built in a factory on a permanently attached chassis before being transported to site. Used as permanent homes, or for holiday or temporary accommodation, they are often left permanently or semi-permanently in one place, but can be moved, and may be required to move from time to time for legal reasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hut</span> Dwelling

A hut is a small dwelling, which may be constructed of various local materials. Huts are a type of vernacular architecture because they are built of readily available materials such as wood, snow, ice, stone, grass, palm leaves, branches, hides, fabric, or mud using techniques passed down through the generations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Droving</span>

Droving is the practice of walking livestock over long distances. It is a type of herding. Droving stock to market—usually on foot and often with the aid of dogs—has a very long history in the Old World. An owner might entrust an agent to deliver stock to market and bring back the proceeds. There has been droving since people in cities found it necessary to source food from distant supplies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vardo (Romani wagon)</span> Traditional horse-drawn wagon of British Romani people

A vardo is a traditional horse-drawn wagon used by British Romanichal Travellers as their home. A vardo must have four wheels, with two being used for steering. The vehicle is typically highly decorated, intricately carved, brightly painted, and even gilded. The Romanichal Traveller tradition of the vardo is seen as a high cultural point of both artistic design and a masterpiece of woodcrafter's art.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canning Downs</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

Canning Downs was the first residential establishment built by a white person on the Darling Downs in Queensland, Australia. It is located a short drive from the town of Warwick and originally extended south east to Killarney and the McPherson Range. The area was first named after the British statesman George Canning by Allan Cunningham.

A hopper hut was a form of temporary accommodation provided for hop-pickers on English farms in the 19th and 20th centuries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Livestock guardian dog</span> Dog type bred for the purpose of protecting livestock from predators

A livestock guardian dog (LGD) is a dog type bred for the purpose of protecting livestock from predators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kent Life</span>

Kent Life is an English open-air museum located at Sandling, next to Allington Locks, on the east bank of the River Medway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shepherd</span> Person who tends, feeds, or guards flocks of sheep

A shepherd or sheepherder is a person who tends, herds, feeds, or guards flocks of sheep. Shepherd derives from Old English sceaphierde. Shepherding is one of the world's oldest occupations, it exists in all parts of the globe, and it is an important part of pastoralist animal husbandry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Llanegryn</span> Human settlement in Wales

Llanegryn is a village and a community in Gwynedd, north-west Wales. It was formerly part of the historic county of Merionethshire. It is located within Snowdonia National Park south of the Snowdonia (Eryri) mountain range. Travelling by road, it is around 4 miles (6 km) north-east of Tywyn and 17 miles (27 km) south-west of Dolgellau. The nearest railway stations are at Tonfanau and Llwyngwril, both less than 3 miles (5 km) away.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toowoomba railway station</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

Toowoomba railway station is a heritage-listed railway station on the Western line at Russell Street, Toowoomba, Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. It serves the city of Toowoomba, which is the junction for the Western, Main and Southern lines. The station has one platform with a passing loop, opening in 1867. It was designed by FDG Stanley and built in 1873 by R. Godsall. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jondaryan Woolshed</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

Jondaryan Woolshed is a heritage-listed shearing shed at Evanslea Road, Jondaryan, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1859-60 to replace an earlier, smaller woolshed on the former Jondaryan pastoral station, which was at one stage the largest freehold station in Queensland. The woolshed was the scene of significant labour conflict in the late 1880s and early 1890s, as the station became a test case for the new Queensland Shearers Union in the lead-up to the 1891 Australian shearers' strike.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acland No. 2 Colliery</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

Acland No. 2 Colliery is a heritage-listed former mine at 2 Francis Street, Acland, Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 29 June 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slab Hut Farm</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

Slab Hut Farm is a heritage-listed farm at 847 Mt Nebo Road, Enoggera Reservoir, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1890s to 1890s. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Living van</span>

A living van is a portable caravan, used by the itinerant crew of a traction engine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Selector's Hut, Camp Mountain</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

The Selector's Hut is a heritage-listed hut at 20 Upper Camp Mountain Road, Camp Mountain, Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia. It is also known as Marks' Hut. It was built c. 1870 by George Atthow. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 3 December 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bella Vista (homestead)</span> Historic site in New South Wales, Australia

Bella Vista is a heritage-listed residence at Elizabeth Macarthur Drive, Bella Vista, The Hills Shire, New South Wales, Australia. It was built from 1830 to 1960. It is also known as Kings Langley, Stock Farm, Seven Hills Farm and Bella Vista Farm. The property is owned by The Hills Shire Council and was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

References

  1. D'Angelo, Isabella (July 12, 2014). "The Pennsic House is Period!". Isabella's Project Blog.
  2. Lassure, Christian. "The shepherd's caravan as shown in illuminated manuscripts of the late Middle Ages".
  3. "History of the Shepherd's Hut".

Further reading