A Refuge From The World: Some Remarkable Things That Have Been Achieved In Garden Sheds

Like many people, you probably think of garden sheds as places to store that extra stuff that doesn't fit in your garage. But a garden shed could be so much more—some remarkable achievements have taken place within the humble shed. Manufacturers offer a wide array of garden sheds to choose from, and perhaps you should consider something that has the potential to be more than mere storage space. Opt for a garden shed that has a window and a workspace, as well as the necessary room to store your things. Who knows -- perhaps your shed could be used for projects that might rival these remarkable feats.

Storage for Ideas

Many writers have used their garden shed as a place to write, and there's a certain logic to this. A garden shed allows you to feel like you're at home, even though you're detached from your house with the peace and quiet that comes with just a few metres distance. Beloved writer Roald Dahl (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, The Fantastic Mr Fox) did all of his writing from a garden shed at the bottom of his garden. The extraordinarily tall Dahl (he was 200cm) would cram himself into the tiny shed and write by hand, with notebooks and loose pieces of paper everywhere. It could be argued that this shed was a storage space for ideas, and the shed has been untouched since Dahl's death in 1990 as a memorial to his work.

Garden Sheds and Speed

New Zealander Burt Munro is best known for setting several land speed records in the 1960's, all achieved with modified motorbikes built in his garden shed in Invercargill. His story was brought to the big screen in the 2005 film The World's Fastest Indian, and it's a testament to what can be achieved in the sanctuary of a garden shed. Some unfortunate circumstances led to Munro spending more time than most in a shed, since after his 1947 divorce, he ended up living in a garden shed for some years, allowing him a lot of time to tinker with his creations. The shed in question no longer exists and a home was built on the site, although the contents of the shed and a number of Burt's motorbikes were put on display in the town.

The Dark Side of the Garden Shed

Even if your loved ones are musical geniuses, you might get a bit sick of them playing music at home all the time. Pink Floyd's Roger Waters got around this by building a recording studio in the garden shed of his Islington home. It was here that demo tracks for their iconic album The Dark Side of the Moon were recorded. Since the shed was not soundproofed and was a touch on the small side, the final version of the album was actually recorded at the Abbey Road Studios. It's remarkable to think that one of the most influential albums of all time had its inception at the bottom of the garden.

So while you might not plan to write, make music or break any land speed records, your garden shed can be so much more than just a place to store things. It can be a quiet refuge from the world or a place to be alone with your thoughts. Perhaps any prospective garden shed you choose should have some space that's just for you. For more information, contact a company like Custom Sheds Perth.


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