The Plankbridge Bothy is a charming one-of-a-kind hut that can be used as a home office, garden studio, hobby room or gardener’s retreat. It draws its inspiration from the evocative atmosphere of Victorian gardener’s bothies and incorporates design cues from a wide range of sources, from shepherd’s huts and living vans through to Danny the Champion of the World’s caravan and traditional farm hay wagons. There are even subtle nods to founder Richard’s 1920s Bournemouth tram that once doubled as his office, and timber-built Norfolk Broads cruisers from the 1930s. The result is a blending of design and craftsmanship that really sings.
The hut’s corrugated iron cladding is painted a rich aubergine, a shade chosen by award-winning garden designer Pollyanna Wilkinson. Departing from the traditional shepherd’s hut, the Bothy’s waisted walls anchor it in the landscape rather than sitting on it – a subtle visual trick that makes the Bothy a harmonious addition to any garden or landscaping scheme.
Get in touch to talk through your plans: 01300 348414 | enquiries@plankbridge.com
The Bothy has a rich history, taking pride of place at the centre of the Great Pavilion at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023 as part of the ‘Women in Horticulture’ feature, before finding a home in the orchard near the Hilltop laboratory building at RHS Garden Wisley.
Featuring an English ash desk modelled on a traditional potting bench that has been engraved with sketches from Gertrude Jekyll’s personal notebooks, it is lined internally with sweet chestnut and includes an oak stable door, single and double oak windows, 240v electrics and an electric cast-iron radiator.
Do get in touch to talk through your plans: 01300 348414 | enquiries@plankbridge.com
14′ x 6’6″ (7’1” at its widest point) / 81 sq ft. of floor space. Also available as 12′ or 16′ long.
The RHS Bothy is uniquely built from UK grown timber, from the larch framework, insulated with Thermafleece sheeps’ wool, to the solid English ash floor and internal wall lining of random width sweet chestnut. The windows and door joinery is all made using naturally durable, seasoned sweet chestnut. The boards are nailed with hand-dressed iron rose-head nails. The detailing has been described as breath-taking, and it certainly has a magic, handcrafted quality.
You too could enjoy the superb acoustics and year round comfort that this hut offers. The RHS Bothy as shown is 14’ long, full of potential, and available in any colour externally. Internally it is offered lined in natural random width English ash or sweet chestnut boards (or painted boards if required).
Get in touch to talk through your plans: 01300 348414 | enquiries@plankbridge.com
We have put together some information about the uses for shepherd’s huts:
