The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Smallholding => Buildings & planning => Topic started by: SafeHaven on July 01, 2017, 02:55:25 pm

Title: What is this for?
Post by: SafeHaven on July 01, 2017, 02:55:25 pm
This is on the smallholding we've just bought. It's like a tiny barn. About 6ft tall at the apex, maybe 8'-9' long Concrete floor. You'd have to stoop to get in. What's it for?
Title: Re: What is this for?
Post by: Penninehillbilly on July 01, 2017, 03:51:41 pm
So that's the only door in and hinges on top?
Was it mentioned in the sales description?
Title: Re: What is this for?
Post by: SafeHaven on July 01, 2017, 04:03:28 pm
It's the only door I've seen. And the particulars just say "a range of outbuildings...". Which I presume are the barns, stables, etc. This one is a mystery. It's like a dwarf barn.
Title: Re: What is this for?
Post by: harmony on July 01, 2017, 04:10:02 pm
Most likely pigs but could have been for sheep or calves. What are you going to use it for?
Title: Re: What is this for?
Post by: SafeHaven on July 01, 2017, 04:30:53 pm
Most likely pigs but could have been for sheep or calves. What are you going to use it for?

I don't know. It's in an area over from the main house, by the vegetable beds... it's very strange. It seems a very extravagant place to keep your garden implements. It's a well sturdy place to keep chickens, but cleaning it out would be a nightmare. It's perplexing!  ???
Title: Re: What is this for?
Post by: Womble on July 01, 2017, 04:52:36 pm
It looks a bit like the hen house that was here when we moved in. People were shorter in those days!  ;D

We demolished it, and converted the existing 8'x10' Wendy House into a hen house. The previous owner's children were not amused when they found out!
Title: Re: What is this for?
Post by: YorkshireLass on July 01, 2017, 09:12:15 pm
I'm getting chicken house vibes from those pictures
Title: Re: What is this for?
Post by: SafeHaven on July 01, 2017, 09:24:56 pm
It would make a very sturdy chicken house. But having had chooks for a long time, I don't think it would be very easy to clean or collect eggs from, and not very well ventilated either.  :-\
Title: Re: What is this for?
Post by: Buttermilk on July 02, 2017, 07:55:09 am
Is it in a position where it would have been used as a kennel for outdoor dogs?
Title: Re: What is this for?
Post by: SafeHaven on July 02, 2017, 08:08:13 am
Is it in a position where it would have been used as a kennel for outdoor dogs?

It's in an open area between the house and vegetable gardens. But there is also a drive nearby that goes right down to the road. I suppose it could be a kennel. But that shelf in the back doesn't make too much sense, unless it's a small dog that doesn't like sleeping on the ground...

Looks like there used to be a hinged door on it but it's not there anymore.
Title: Re: What is this for?
Post by: Penninehillbilly on July 02, 2017, 01:09:53 pm
Goats like a raised shelf to sleep On?
Your first picture, does the bottom of that opening open?  So things can walk in and out?  That's what is confusing me?
Title: Re: What is this for?
Post by: SafeHaven on July 02, 2017, 01:29:23 pm
It's just a standard, one door opening, right to the floor. The shelf at the back is maybe 3' off the ground, and 2' ish deep. Any goats would have to arm wrestle to get the top bunk because it'd probably only hold one little'un!
Title: Re: What is this for?
Post by: SafeHaven on July 02, 2017, 01:37:42 pm
Could it be a pig shelter? There's no fence around it... but... ???
Title: Re: What is this for?
Post by: Penninehillbilly on July 02, 2017, 02:38:35 pm
But there looks to be a hinge as though something hinged along the top so it swung from the top?
If it's on the way to the veg garden how about a potting shed?  Sloping sides may have been easier to construct with materials available? Is it a windy area?  Maybe less wind resistance?
Duck shed and their food stored on the shelf where they couldn't reach?  ?
Title: Re: What is this for?
Post by: SafeHaven on July 02, 2017, 02:42:54 pm
With only one opening, that you'd have to stoop to get through, and no ventilation, I think it would be hard to clean out if housing mucky animals like ducks or chickens. And HOT when the sun's out. That's what confuses me.

It's on a Welsh hillside so I'd say the occasional gust of wind is feasible!

Maybe I should just figure out what it CAN be used for and go from there!
Title: Re: What is this for?
Post by: pgkevet on July 02, 2017, 06:06:35 pm
outside the box thinking .. mushrooms, chickory, snow white's servant's quarters, root cellar..
Title: Re: What is this for?
Post by: Foobar on July 03, 2017, 09:52:02 am
Def a hen house I'd say!
Title: Re: What is this for?
Post by: Penninehillbilly on July 03, 2017, 11:29:32 am

Your first picture, does the bottom of that opening open?  So things can walk in and out?  That's what is confusing me?
LOL
I've just twigged that image is sideways as well, thought it was all a bit strange  ::)
Looking on my tablet, picture turns as I turn tablet, getting a twist in my neck trying to see pic didn't help  ;D