A Japanese retreat, a nail studio, or a brewhouse. There’s a lot you can do with the common shed that the annual ‘Shed Of The Year’ awards once again prove. But very few are as unexpected as this WW2 Museum in the West Midlands—with everything from US Army supplies to a Wellington bomber wing spar inside.
The Cotterdige shed is full of World War II items from British and American forces, including medical equipment, cockpit clocks, and personal items. So next time you despair of your partner’s hoarding habits, give thought to Robert Sharpe, who started collecting military paraphernalia while still in his childhood.
It wasn’t until Robert was recovering from maxillofacial cancer that his collection left his loft and became the cornerstone of his new museum, however. “My shed offers me the opportunity to restore and repair items, while also researching their history and, where possible, uncovering the stories behind them,” said Robert.
“Collecting militaria has been a hobby of mine since childhood, and during my darkest days during surgery, chemo and radiotherapy, I clung on to my interest. I thought to myself that my collection deserved more than just being stored in my loft, and perhaps I could enjoy sharing it with others.”
This mini Second World War museum is now up for the Tiger’s ‘Shed of the Year’, which, if you can believe it, is now in its 20th year of the competition. Robert Sharpe’s shed is under the ‘unique/unexpected’ category, but each entry is really as barmy as the next—including the world’s fastest shed fitted with a V8 engine.
If he wins, Robert will receive a £1,000 cash prize, and you can vote for him by heading here.
