Rare war hut’s on the market (From The Argus)

Rare war hut’s on the market

8:10pm Monday 7th January 2013 in News By Peter Truman

A rare Second World War Nissen hut lived in for 56 years by two female friends is now up for sale in Sussex.

The hut – which is in ‘a state of disrepair’ sits in an acre of land and is surrounded by dilapidated outbuildings, including a pig sty.

The late owners of the unusual home, Vera Barlow and Edith Hooper, were two land girls during the war and lived in the hut from 1956 until early 2012, when they both passed away aged 87 and 92.

The building in Chidham near Chichester, West Sussex, was used for housing Canadian soldiers manning ‘ack-ack’ guns to protect the local harbour area during the Second World War.

Due to its semi-cylindrical shape and layer of corrugated iron sheets, the Nissen hut deflected shrapnel and bomb blast, making it a perfect bomb shelter.

Previous owners and lifelong friends Miss Barlow and Miss Hooper washed dishes at a local hospital and kept livestock to earn money.

They drove around in an old Bedford van, owned a motorbike, and shared an old grey Ferguson tractor.

The three-bedroom hut is described by estate agents Stride & Son based in Chichester as in a ‘poor state of repair’ but the site is ‘ready for redevelopment’ subject to planning laws.

A spokesman added that they weren’t listing a guide price due to the ‘uniqueness’ of the site.

Interested buyers should submit offers in writing to Stride and Son’s by February 28.

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