Out & About July 2017

Bespoke Shepherd Huts from Hartwood Oak

W hen childhood friends Sam Sam in Hatton Garden learning business skills, and Tim in Newbury using his love of carpentry – would one day bring them together into a business partnership, which this year celebrates 25 years. Hartwood Oak Buildings Ltd has established itself as the go-to company locally for bespoke, high quality timber constructions from house extensions and outbuildings to simple, but effective porches, pergolas and garden buildings. They have worked on restoring listed timber- framed buildings to creating large new oak frames of traditional and contemporary design. Hartwood Oak works as both a main contractor for bespoke projects as well as specialist contractor to other companies. Tim and Sam have built the business from a two-man band, working out of a small shed, to a thriving commercial operation, which today McCallum and Tim Green left St Barts School they little imagined that their separate careers –

employs around 15 people and is housed in a large, suite of offices and a spacious workshop in East Woodhay. It is still very much a family affair with Tim’s son James now in charge of site operations and his daughter Helen handling drawings and planning. “We started off building sheds and outbuildings,” says Sam. “And then progressed to larger domestic projects. They have now added the increasingly-popular Shepherd’s Huts to their range, as people look for a stylish alternative for a spare room or extra office space. “Shepherd’s Huts are something we have been wanting to do for some time. It is such a versatile space – home office, playroom, writers retreat, changing room, spare bedroom,” explainsTim. Although the original aim was to produce huts that were as authentic as possible, the design can be tailored in a variety of ways to meet the

needs of the individual in terms of size and internal or external finish. They can be clad externally in oak or traditional ‘wriggly tin’ and fully lined with matchboard painted in a variety of colours, there really is a wide range of posibilities. Although they would love to produce an entirely authentic version, complete with rusty tin walls and time-worn floors and doors, they would like to hear from people with their own ideas. Prices for the huts start at £15k plus VAT and include oak chassis with cast iron wheels, treated softwood main frame, insulation to floor, walls and roof, corrugated steel cladding in a variety of colours, timber floor, matchboard lined walls, lighting points and plug sockets, stable door and two traditional casement windows, plus oak entrance steps. To find out more about Shepherd Huts or other designs from Hartwood Oak call:

(01635) 253534 or visit www.hartwoodoak.com

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