Huts Off To Two Inventive Shepherds

Staging something of a comeback, a shepherd’s hut sits peacefully in the field. Meadow grass gently tickling its underbelly, the quaint little hut looks at home and is certainly the talk about town since its sudden rejuvenation over the past few years.

Once considered an old relic, an almost fictional object used in a more idyllic time by shepherds to watch their flocks day and night. The old huts, most of which lie discarded and decaying in hedgerows or corners of fields are back and stronger than ever before.

The huts, that feature in many of Thomas Hardy’s novels detailing the hard yet beautiful life of everyday people within 19th century Dorset, were once a familiar sight and have been found to date back as far as the 16th century during the reign of Queen Elizabeth1.

The hut that once signified a hard, and at times harsh, life of work and frequent upheaval has had somewhat of a “facelift” and is now a firmly countryside must-have, having reinvented itself as a luxury item, not to mention a savvy business venture.

Usually timber framed with cast iron wheels and clean cut stylish interior, the huts really are fit for any purpose, from office to music rooms, therapy room to children’s playroom.

Phil Jones, of Goodlife Shepherd’s Huts, says that the opportunities aren’t limited solely to personal and private use, “The huts really offer a niche angle to many different forms of business. We have had interest from all sorts of people, from B & B owners to music tutors to beauticians. Many people do their sums and realise that our huts are cheaper than an extension and much less hassle as they generally don’t require planning permission”.



The huts, that follow exactly the same design as the originals, come fully insulated, equipped with a small wood burner, access to electricity and oozing nostalgia. Jones says that he puts the recent flourish of popularity down to changing attitudes towards the countryside. “Rural England is a beautiful place. I think over the last 5-10 years people have really started to get back to nature and cherish our wonderful outdoor spaces. What better way to do that than in a traditional yet modern and comfortable piece of rural history”.