If you’ve ever found yourself, mid summer brunch, wandering through your neighbour’s beautiful garden, eyeing the begonias and the ivy on the wall before you were stopped breathless at their garden shed, thinking to yourself, “Corr, that’s a really good shed.” Then, there is a high likelihood that you were looking at a Shire product. And while we at Norfolk Sheds pride ourselves on offering a variety of top-tier timber brands, it’s time we tipped our caps to one of the true staples of the UK garden scene: Shire Garden Buildings.
Shire is a UK based family business that has been dedicated to beautifying garden spaces for the past 40 years! So of course, we have a bit of a soft spot for this company. Based out of Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, Shire Garden Buildings have been manufacturing high quality timber garden buildings since 1981, and have a firsthand experience of how the UK garden scene has changed over the years. How, while some people still opt for the reliability of the classic, rustic shed, others are looking for more modern designs. So, with care, consistency and genuine investment in your gardens Shire has created a catalogue that suits every garden need, and also every one of your needs. Whether you're looking for a common meeting space, a summer refuge or a winter retreat, Shire has got you covered.
But the diverse range offered isn’t nearly all that makes Shire so special.
Shire focuses on using sustainably sourced wood. Yes, that’s right, from shed to summerhouse, every single component in a Shire shed is crafted using FSC®-certified timber, ensuring the wood is gathered from a sustainably managed forest. This is not only a boon for the planet and a big green flag for responsible consumerism, but it also ensures that the wood quality of your shed is solid. Solid, slow-grown European softwood is denser, tougher and because it is local, more resistant to the local weather conditions.
On top of that, however, to ensure the longevity of your shed, Shire also offered tailored treatment options for the wood. You can opt for dip treated or pressure treated timber depending on your garden and your needs. Dip treated often works out great for affordability and short term protection, while pressure treated timber is for those of us who want to set it and forget it (well, not completely forget it—read our shed maintenance guide here!).
And then, well, we might as well get back into it now, the diversity of the range is really something!
Pent roof? Apex roof? Reverse apex? Corner summerhouse? You name it and Shire’s probably got it. Whether you’re looking for a garden workshop where you can pull out your tools and work on that summer project you’ve been meaning to get to for the past five summers, or if you just want a nice little garden office where you can focus on work without the cat spilling coffee all over your spreadsheets. Or, maybe you want a children’s playhouse out back, so the kids aren’t spilling play-doh all over your bed sheets, whatever it is, Shire’s got some options for you. Take a look at Shire workshops here and Shire garden sheds here, oh, and just in case you’ve actually been dreaming of an arbour for an early evening rendezvous, adding a touch of that quintessential Jane Austen type romance back into your life, check this out!
And the best part about all of these charming little buildings?
They’re not going to take you ages to put together! Shire sheds arrive in pre-cut panels, and the instructions are about as straightforward as they come. In fact, some of the smaller models can be put together in just a few hours with a second pair of hands and a few basic tools. But, if you’d rather skip the spanners altogether and just sit back with a nice hot cuppa as you watch your garden transform, then be sure to reach out to us at Norfolk Sheds and enquire about the installation services that we offer around the country.
And that’s not all we offer. We’re also proud to deliver across the region! From Norwich and King’s Lynn to Dereham, Fakenham, Cromer, Great Yarmouth and everywhere in between. If you’ve got a postcode in East Anglia, we’ve got a delivery truck with your name on it!
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves; there are a few practical things to first consider before you order your shed.
First: do you need planning permission? In most cases, the answer to this is no, as long as your building stays under 2.5 metres tall and doesn’t clutter up more than half your garden, then you should be good. That being said, if you have any doubts on the kind of neighbourhood you live in (perhaps it is a conservation area), then it’s worth giving your local planning authority a quick ring just to be safe before you start planning out your shed.
And second: do you need a base? The answer to this one is—absolutely! A good, solid, level base is key to keeping your shed dry, moisture and pest protected, and stable and standing tall for years to come. Whether the foundation is a concrete slab, a timber frame, or a tidy set of paving slabs, we can help you figure out what’s best for your space, and hey, here’s one more thing we offer, we can even help you build it!
So, to put it simply, a Shire shed from Norfolk Sheds is an easy, breezy, dream deal!
But don’t just take our word for it, here’s what some of our customers are saying:
“We ordered a Shire corner summerhouse for our garden in Norwich, and it’s perfect. Quality was better than expected, and the delivery team were fantastic. Thank you to Norfolk Sheds for making it so easy.”
– Claire M, Norwich
“The Shire Highclere workshop was ideal for my woodworking. Sturdy, easy to put together, and surprisingly spacious. Would recommend Norfolk Sheds to anyone!”
– John R, Downham Market
“Very good service, friendly polite staff... delivery service was excellent.”
– From Shire verified reviews
Still, if your mind isn’t yet fully made up, why don’t you simply sit back, take the pressure off and windo–well…screen shop for the sake of it.
Here are some of Shire’s exceptional models that might give you some inspiration:
Barnsdale Log Cabin
The Barnsdale Log Cabin is superbly built from thick interlocking logs of the highest quality. The full glazed double door and windows provides plenty of natural light as well as complementing the design of the building. The size of the Barnsdale Log Cabin makes it extremely versatile for whatever use you have in mind, and the generous headroom gives one the feeling of spaciousness.
Avesbury Log Cabin
Here’s a cosy and stylish option, the Avesbury Log cabin will provide a luxurious garden building that not only looks great but makes you feel great too. Once inside you cannot fail to notice the quality of the timber walls that instantly give you a comforting feeling and the thick roof beams provide a fantastic feature within the log cabin.
Marlborough Log Cabin
This beautiful log cabin features generous internal height, toughened glass, a thick, high-quality 28mm thick interlocking tongue and groover timber floor and roof, as well as pressure treated floor bearers. Of course, like all of our sheds, the Marlborough log cabin is made from FSC Timber.
So there you have it, Shire is, erm…sure fire when it comes to sheds. Honestly though, spend some time browsing their products on our website as we provide a full set of specs for each model. However, if at any time you have any questions at all, feel free to reach out to us and we will be happy to guide you through it!