Historian's have traced Shepherd Huts back to 1596, where an early text reads 'the Shepheard hath his Cabbin going upon a wheel for to move here and there at his pleasure'. They were a familiar site throughout Britian. Originally, shepherd’s huts provided welcome shelter from Britain’s unpredictable weather – as well as offering them a place to rest their head and escape from the elements during the lambing season, which would typically take place during the colder winter months. Owning a shepherd’s hut allowed farmers to practice better land management; the sheep flock was ‘folded’ or fenced with hazel hurdles across the downs, manuring the ground as they went. A shepherd’s hut had space for a pot belly stove, intended for basic cooking and warmth, a bed and sitting area. There was usually a corner cupboard for bare essentials and veterinary medicines. The bed would often accommodate space underneath for unwell or orphaned lambs.