Gypsy Caravan
parked behind The Punch Bowl Inn, Low Row
North Yorkshire
Gypsy Caravan
Waiting for new wheels
Behind The Green Dragon Inn, Hardraw, North Yorkshire
Gypsy Caravan, Somerset
Gypsy Caravan Breaks, Langport, Somerset
"Perfect for a romantic weekend break with a cosy twist, this picture-perfect bow-topped caravan awaits you in beautiful Somerset. There are hardly any of these caravans available for hire in England, but you'll find this one tucked away in an apple orchard on the edge of a smallholding, so it will be surrounded by apples or blossom depending when you visit. Inside you'll find a ready-made wooden bed to clamber into, and there's not much space for anything else. But don't fret, you'll also find that there's a separate shepherd's hut housing your solar-powered power shower and washbasin, and a 1970s Marshall caravan to cook in.
• Open April-October. From £75 a night, two nights £130, three nights £180, four nights £220, extra nights £55 (sleeps 2); the nightly price gets cheaper the more nights you book; 01458 270044, gypsycaravanbreaks.co.uk"
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That was from May of 2011, so I would imagine that prices have changed. ***
At first, it appeared to me that there wasn't a lot of difference between the Gypsy Caravan (Vardo) and the Shepherd's Hut. But after reading the articles I found, it seems that the main differences were permanence and use.
The Gypsy caravan was built for travel, and pulled by a single horse, usually no more than 15 miles a day. Often it was the means of going from one circus or fair to the next, and housed a family. The Gypsy caravan typically had larger wheels than did the shepherd's huts, for they needed to be able to ford streams. And although I'm not entirely certain that the first two photos of this post (which I took in North Yorkshire) are actually Gypsy caravans, I think it's the most likely explanation, although many of the Gypsy caravans, for which I found photos online, were much more ornate. If any UK readers can identify the 'wagons' in the first two photos, I would appreciate a comment with that information.
gypsywaggons.com
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The shepherd's hut (see photos below), on the other hand, was a structure built for the sole purpose of housing the shepherd during lambing season, so he could be out in the pasture with the ewes and assist and care for them as they were ready to lamb. (Evidently, the farmers didn't all just phone James Herriot, which is what I certainly would have done). The shepherd's hut, on smaller iron wheels, was moved from one part of the pasture to the next, but stayed on the farm. Another later use, during the war, was to house a prisoner of war.
Shepherdhuts.co.uk
Ian McDonald and his restored shepherd's hut
from BBC.co.uk
'His research into his hut also brought him to the story of Hans Lenzen, the reason the hut had come to School Farm in Barford in 1945. He was one of two Austrian prisoners-of-war who were allocated to the farm to work from the nearby Kimberley POW camp. The hut was bought for £7 from Hall Farm at Rackheath, near Norwich, to house Mr Lenzen and he lived in it for two years...' Read Article Here.
And in case you're looking for a shepherd's hut to rent, here's a whole list, with photos, from Holiday Lettings.
Shepherd's Hut in Wisconsin
And then there's this shepherd's hut in Wisconsin that's never been occupied. The shepherd would have nothing do do with it, although it has the finest accommodations, is well-built, fully insulated, consists of two spacious rooms, and even has room service.
The shepherd prefers to stay in the big house, where he can keep a closer eye on his flock.
The shepherd prefers to stay in the big house, where he can keep a closer eye on his flock.
I couldn't resist.
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'Pears & Berries'
Natural, Homemade Vegan Soap
This post may be linked to some of the following: Mop it Up Monday and Cure for the Common Monday and Mealtime Monday and Clever Chicks Blog Hop and Mosaic Monday and Barn Charm and The Marketplace and On the Menu Monday and Mix it up Monday and Make it Pretty Monday and What's in the Gunny Sack and Making the World Cuter Mondays and Make the Scene Monday and Something I Whipped Up Monday and Motivate Me Monday and Making Monday Marvelous and Get Your Craft On and You're Gonna Love it Tuesday and Tweak it Tuesday and Coastal Charm Tuesday and Take a Look Tuesday and Tasty Tuesday and Tasty Tuesday and Love Bakes Good Cakes and Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays and Overflowing With Creativity and Mom on TimeOut and Adorned from Above and Cast Party Wednesday and We Did it Wednesday and It's a Party at Creative Princess and Artsy Corner Thursday and The Self-sufficient Home Acre and I'm Lovin' it Thursday and Mandatory Mooch and Foodie Friends Friday and Serenity Saturday and Get Schooled Saturday and Inspiration Friday(ThursNite) and Vintage Inspiration Friday and Photo Friday and A Favorite Thing Saturday and Sunny Simple Sunday and Saturday Nite Special
