The history of shepherd huts

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It is widely believed that shepherd’s huts are of relatively recent origin, dating back to the early 19th or possibly late 18th century. However, researchers have discovered a reference to a wheeled shepherd’s hut in a publication from the 16th century, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1!

Designs of huts vary but their basic function, which was to provide mobile shelter for the shepherd and a storeroom for his tools, pretty much dictated the inside – a simple bed and table, a cupboard for tools and medicines and a stove to keep the whole place wonderfully cosy. The bed would originally have had a straw mattress and may have been across the end of the hut or down one wall, depending on the width of the hut – and the size of the shepherd! Underneath the bed was a cage, called a Lamb Rack, where injured, weak or orphaned lambs could be kept warm and dry and handy for a regular bottle. They continued to serve a very valuable purpose to the farmer until the 1950’s when, unfortunately, most were abandoned and left to rot. Happily they are now enjoying a resurgence, but for different reasons!