Bunkhouses of Yore

What do you imagine when I have told you that we are going to be building a bunkhouse?  I have been googling the word 'bunkhouse' to find out the images the word conjours up and so... 

This is the wikipedia entry-

A bunkhouse is a hostel or barracks-like building that historically was used to house working cowboys on ranches in North America. As most cowboys were young single men, the standard bunkhouse was a large open room with narrow beds or cots for each individual and little privacy. The bunkhouse of the late 19th century was usually heated by a wood stove and personal needs were attended to in an outhouse.

Here are some photos that might fit with that image. 

It makes me think of the Steinbeck novel 'Of Mice and Men'.  It was probably pretty cold, dreary and basic, hopefully the fireside singing cheered them up a bit!

(I think we can do a bit better than the Bunkhouses of Yore!)

 

Hadrian's Wall

Here's a short history lesson... Hadrian's wall was built by Hadrian's minions in AD122 to keep the barbarians of the north out of the Roman Empire and demonstrate the political power of Rome.  It was the most heavily fortified border in the empire.

Today, nearly 2000 years later, Hadrian's wall is a national heritage site and the 84 mile long footpath which follows the line of the wall from Bowness-on-Solway to Wallsend goes through some of the most rural and beautiful countryside in Britain. 

 

first post

This is my first day as a blogger and my first ever blog post... hello and welcome to you reader!

I would like to introduce us... Rebecca (the one writing this entry) and Joss (the business partner and boyfriend and not writing this entry). 

Joss and I both work in stable, sensible jobs in Newcastle upon Tyne but our dream is to develop an old barn on Hadrian's Wall into a bunkhouse and cafe for walkers and cyclists.  We have been working on this plan for the last 12 months and finally have planning permission and building control approval and we think we are ready to get building ( while hoping our cash flow allows!). 

This blog is going to be a diary of our first year starting a business together... we've agreed... it's set in stone... March 1st 2014 is going to be opening day.

Wish us luck!  

R

    (can you believe this pic was taken on top of Ben Nevis in the summer... brrr!)