''Thank you for visiting the Plankbridge website.  We create shepherds' huts for contemporary uses, built on our unique, authentic all metal chassis, based on original Victorian designs of local firms such as Lott and Warne, Dorchester and Reeves of Bratton, Wiltshire.  Please contact us if you need any further information.''

Plankbridge shepherd's hut workshop is based in Dorset.  It stands in the rural heart of the setting for Thomas Hardy's Far from the madding crowd, in the very water meadows evocatively brought to life by the novelist.

The meadows are an ideal spot for the workshop, complementing the Plankbridge vision of creating contemporary huts for modern use in an atmosphere inspired by the traditional craftsmanship of the past.

'The outskirts of this level water meadow were diversified by rounded and hollow pastures, where just now every flower that was not a buttercup was a daisy.  The river slid along as noiselessly as a shade, the swelling reeds and sedge forming a flexible palisade upon its moist brink'

From Far from the madding crowd by Thomas Hardy.  The meadow described lies alongside the Plankbridge workshop.

The shepherds' huts are made and restored in the heart of Dorset by a small team of experienced makers. Richard Lee studied at Hooke Park College / Bournemouth University in Dorset, gaining an MSc. in Forest products (design and manufacture). He has been a self employed craftsman since 1994. Jane Dennison uses her experience and eye for the traditional to paint and furnish the huts to a high standard.

Jake Reilly from Dorchester joined Plankbridge in 2009 with an astounding wealth of experience in woodwork, from furniture making to timber frame house building. He has a particularly good eye for quality. James Martin from Wareham is our hut maker apprentice. Andrew Lee, an artisan blacksmith, creates the metal and forge work, and sorts out deliveries.

We take pride in our friendly, 'small family firm' approach.

'We are absolutely delighted with our hut. Our daughters had thought their parents rather crazy to buy such a thing for the garden but now they have seen it have fallen in love with the whole romantic idea.' -Worcestershire customer

"We wanted to thank you for our wonderful Shepherd's Hut. It now has pride of place at the top of our garden and looks as though it has always been there! The children can't wait to have their first overnight in it. The craftsmanship of the hut including the attention to detail is superb. I would have no hesitation in recommending Plankbridge to anyone considering one" - Dorset customer