The History Hut

There are many different types of subjects which are of interest to collectors, ranging from stamps to memorabilia associated with actors of the 1940s and their films. Special fairs and auctions are also organised to cater for these interests. Collecting militaria is one of the biggest interest areas, and every month there are several specialist fairs held for this group of enthusiasts. Collectors from across Europe travel to attend some of the big events in London or the International Birmingham Antique Arms and Militaria Fair (www.birminghamarmsfair.com) held at least three times a year at the National Motorcycle Museum, B92 0EJ.

Private
All collectors take their interests seriously, with some being active for many years, but each building up their own unique collection which they sometimes display at shows or specialist events. One such private collection, which is open at certain times for the public to visit, is the History Hut. It is located on a working farm near Low Ham in Somerset, TA10 9DR. The name comes from the fact the collection is housed in an original wartime Nissen hut, one of two remaining out of five built on the site, with the other hut being used as spare storage. Units from the Gloucester Regiment at one time used the huts, a fact which in itself makes the location of historical interest to enthusiasts and collectors. The History Hut has an international following on Facebook, where the owner of the collection, Karen Cook, posts the dates and times of opening along with news of what’s happening.
I only discovered the existence of the Hut completely by chance, but on reading the posts and comments on Facebook, I knew I just had to visit it. Because this is a private collection and not a museum, the Hut does not have regular opening times and dates, so I had to pick one from the list when I was free to visit. There is limited parking space on site and entry is free. Visitors just wander in and walk around at their leisure.

My visit
On the day of my visit, there were already a few people inside the Hut, and Karen, wearing a 1940s nurse’s uniform, was busy arranging displays. There is no set way to see the display and visitors are left to choose where they would like to start. 
It was all very relaxed, and as I moved around the displays, I began speaking with Karen, a very friendly and charming lady. I introduced myself and explained how I worked for Gun Mart magazine and that the reason for my visit was to write a feature about her collection and display. The first question I asked was how long she had been collecting. I was surprised when she told me that she only became interested in military history a few years ago and came up with the idea of creating the History Hut to display the items she had acquired. The Hut opened for the first time in September 2017 and was just beginning to become known when COVID-19 hit and knocked everything back.
Undaunted, she weathered the crisis like the rest of us and afterwards picked up the pieces to carry on. Karen and her husband, Owen, are the custodians of the display, which is housed in the Hut, and this enthusiastic couple are on site during open days to answer questions and have a friendly chat with visitors. To help out with technical points, she can call on members of her family to lend a hand when needed. It’s remarkable to think that all this was achieved in such a short space of time and that it has gained the following they have now.

What did I see?
The items in the collection come from various sources, including many through personal donations for which Karen is most grateful. Although the display focuses on both world wars and the impact they had on the local community, other periods are included, from the Roman occupation to events in the 17th century. In fact, The History Hut is just a short distance away from two major sites; the Battle of Langport 1645 and the Battle of Sedgemoor in 1685, which can be visited. There is the local architecture of churches and manor houses for enthusiasts to examine, all within close proximity of the Hut.
Some of the exhibits are tactile and visitors can pick up certain items on display. There are folders containing stories of local people’s personal experiences during the wars. There are many books on the shelves which visitors can look through for reference or just to browse. I was interested to know what Karen thought the most unusual item in the collection was. She replied her favourite item was a Princess Mary’s Christmas tin, given to the troops as a present for Christmas 1914. As a collector myself, I have to agree with her choice that it is a nice item to have on display.
The Hut can be hired by historical groups and other societies for meetings or talks. Karen welcomes school groups to the Hut and is often invited to visit schools in the area to give talks and put on small displays for the pupils. In the short time of the Hut’s existence, it has gained a reputation. It now attracts visitors on holiday from America who are researching family history. And where better to start than at the Hut? Nissen huts are not very large, but you will find yourself absorbed by the eclectic mix of artefacts which make up the collection on display.
The dates and opening times (usually 11am to 4pm) can be found on the Facebook page. The dates for November are the 9th and 11th, just in time for Remembrance Day. For other enquiries, Karen Cook can be contacted by email at [email protected]