Why choose a Plankbridge shepherd’s hut?
Plankbridge bespoke shepherds’ huts are a traditional, insulated and mobile design for contemporary uses such as a home office, studio, bolthole, music or garden room. A shepherd’s hut will provide you with a warm, dry and relatively soundproof space for use throughout the year.

It is far more than a summer house, yet less than an extension!

How are Plankbridge shepherds’ huts made?

The Plankbridge shepherd's hut is the result of many years hard work, developing our version of this traditional design. Just as in the best quality huts of 100 years ago,  we attend to all of the details, from the hand - forged ironwork through to  the 'time capsule' hidden beneath the floor. The unique Plankbridge handcrafted metal chassis is fitted with our own cast iron wheels, made in Somerset and based on a stunning original pattern.  All exposed timber is pressure treated.

The frame is made from Dorset grown durable Douglas fir or Larch, and is assembled  using timber frame house building techniques. It is very strong, and weather proof, and is carefully designed to keep the interior a dry and healthy place to be.

The  whole hut, from floor to roof, is insulated, and you may choose either standard mineral wool or Thermafleece sheep's  wool which is very environmentally friendly and a superb natural insulator.

The floor is solid character grade French oak, finished in linseed oil. We fit one cottage style window (FSC certified) as standard, and you are free to specify further windows and their position. The windows are double glazed which adds to the overall thermal and sound insulation properties.  The FSC stable door is fitted with a five lever mortise lock.

We use mainly traditional Farrow and Ball eggshell paint, and you are free to choose any colour from their range.  Other types of paint can of course be chosen if you prefer.  Our standard exterior paint for the corrugated cladding is an agricultural, hardwearing green,  although customers are increasingly picking exterior colours from the Farrow and Ball range.

To find out more about the outstanding build quality of our huts do get in touch, or perhaps you could arrange to visit to see our show hut and other huts in construction.

Internal dimensions
The inside of the huts are 1.84m (6’) wide by 3.5m (11’6”) long. It is 2.3m (7’6”) to the highest point of the curved ceiling. A hut is surprisingly spacious.

Special features
You can specify additional features such as a bunk or double bed, electrical wiring or a fold away desk. The gentle glow and curl of smoke from a handmade woodburner, for example, bring a shepherd’s hut to life. The woodburners are made by a craftsman blacksmith in Devon.

The option of double stable doors on the side create what we call a Riverkeeper’s hut.

Any bespoke options can be quoted for.

Our approach to the environment.
Uniquely we are based on a wetland nature reserve, and we approach our business and our surroundings in the same way; we strive to enhance and protect our landscape. On a more global scale we are supporting the fantastic RSPB Sumatra rainforest project.

We see it simply as common sense that only locally sourced and FSC materials are used in our huts. At least fifteen local craftspeople and suppliers contribute to a Plankbridge hut!

Price
£8500 exc. VAT (£9987.50 incl. VAT) for our standard hut. We require a holding deposit of £500 at time of order, 50% deposit as work commences and the balance on delivery.

If you would like to be sure of delivery in Spring / early summer 2009 please get in touch.

Delivery
We can deliver using Landrover and trailer, or low loader. We need prior warning of difficult access, and there may be an extra charge to cover time on site. We have even winched huts across bogs and up hills! Once positioned some form of hardstanding should be beneath the wheels. Due to the high build quality of our huts we do not usually offer flat pack versions for assembly on site..

Reproduction or restored
Our standard hut uses professionally cast wheels from original patterns. We also restore shepherd's hut chassis when available. Please ask for details.