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English Garden Shed

It seems traditionally that the English garden shed may have been a site of escape for the man of the house - a sanctuary where the wife did not venture. Today, "this shed building project" is just as likely to be mechanical as organic and refers to the things men tinker with when their wives are not around. But luckily, since we've achieved some measure of equality and harmony in the garden, the English garden shed is now a retreat or a gathering place for all members of the household, a place to hang your favourite tools and that perfect gardening hat for a sunny day.

Origins

English garden sheds popped up around the 15th century and were used to store tools, but also farm animals. The word shed comes from a possible combination of the old English words for "shade" and the Anglo Saxon word for "cover".

Today, this kind of garden shed refers to the design, reflecting either traditional styles from England or, frequently, New England styles of design with shingles or wooden siding. The kits and plans sold online tend to resemble East Coast A-frame cottages and they can make a multi-purpose addition to your backyard depending on the size you choose.

Purposes

Garden sheds have an infinite selection of purpose, from an outdoor office or meditation space, to the more traditional garden potting shed or tool shed utility. When you go to design, purchase or build a garden shed, you should start by deciding what you will use it for.

A tool shed has very few requirements aside from storage space, whereas a garden potting shed might require some windows or skylights, ventilation and adequate bench and shelf space for propagation. Any respectable yard shed includes lots of hooks and shelves for storage.

Once you know what you want to do in your English garden shed, you can decide how to go about setting one up!

Building options

Your English garden shed can come from a kit that you can assemble yourself or have someone assemble for you in your yard - often manufacturers will give you the option. Or, you can buy or download plans, purchase the materials and have a fun do-it-yourself project for the summer. Some kinds of sheds come ready-made, especially plastic and metal garden sheds.

Plastic garden sheds are often more durable, but not as environmentally friendly as those made of timber. The price will vary considerably depending on whether you buy a kit or do-it-yourself as well so make sure you take your budget to the store with you. It's important to look into the different kinds of sheds and investigate options that work best in your climate. No one wants to pull the snow-blower out of a metal garden shed in the middle of a cold Northern winter when the door has frozen shut!  (speaking from personal experience he notes)

Check out other articles on garden shed types here.
Yes, it's a real garden shed


Click here to ask about the English garden shed