Court & Hunt Shepherds Huts

Over the last few years the once humble shepherd’s hut has enjoyed something of a renaissance. No longer a simple shelter for the shepherd while he tended his flock, they are now enjoying a new incarnation as romantic, unique garden rooms.

Working in a medieval tythe barn on a mixed arable and sheep farm in the heart of the Kent countryside, each shepherd’s hut is hand built with meticulous attention to detail to an original 19th century design. All the joinery and metalwork is made in- house from locally sourced, environmentally sustainable materials ~ even the newly cast wheels are made from recycled cast iron.

Construction

The chassis of the hut is constructed from 300mm x 100mm FSC certified timber from sustainable sources using mortise and tenon joinery with the timber and steel axles bolted to the underside. Onto this is built the framework of the hut using 75mm x 50mm timber clad with exterior grade FSC Plywood. This in turn is shrouded in a waterproof breather membrane which allows condensation to escape but prevents water penetration. The final layer is galvanised corrugated steel which is carefully primed and painted in your choice of colour.

Inside the hut there is 75 mm insulation in the walls, floor and ceiling ~ we use Ecowool, which is a wonderfully innovative new insulation material made from 85% recycled plastic bottles and is very effective. The walls and ceiling are then finished with redwood tongue and groove cladding, which is painted with your choice of colour. The floor is character grade oak, finished with oil.

As standard, each hut is fitted with one side window, a stable door at the rear of the hut and two small hatches in the eaves at either end. But, is there any such thing as standard? If you tell us how you want your shepherd’s hut, we can make it for you.

Just some of the features we can install;

*Dimensions:

Internal - 3.66m long x 1.78m wide x 2.0m to the highest point of the arched ceiling.

External – 3.80m long x 2.25m wide (wheelbase width) x 3.0m High (to the highest point of the arched roof) N.b. if a wood burning stove is chosen the chimney flue will extend approximately 50cm above the roof height.

Delivery

We can deliver anywhere in the UK (or Europe for that matter) ~ either on a trailer or on a low loader (if we need to bring a tractor to help the hut to its location). The nature of the site access will need to be discussed but, even in tricky situations, where there’s a will, there’s a way!

Site Preparation

Once on site, the shepherd’s hut will need some form of hard standing underneath the wheels ~ no major ground works or concreting are needed. If the hut is going to stay in one location, sleepers set flush to the ground level are ideal. Even just a paving slab under each wheel will suffice if you plan to move your hut around your garden occasionally. Typically, our huts do not require planning permission but, if you have any concerns, please let us know and we will be more than happy to talk to your local planning office for you.


*All dimensions are approximate and will vary slightly between huts.

Our huts