Walsall shed 'The Tempest' in line for award
A nautical-themed shed influenced by a Shakespeare classic is in line to receive an award.
David Stocks, from Walsall, designed his unusual shed – named The Tempest – as a place which he dubs a "writer's retreat".
The place features a submarine-style door, porthole window, a hatch-style down to the "engine room" which features a circular captain's table.
The name as a nod to David's favourite Shakespeare play and in memory of dog Storm, who died earlier this year.
"It was two-fold," he said.
"We named it this year in memory of our dog and after a Shakespeare play, because my wife and I have been to see the Royal Shakespeare Company's The Tempest in Stratford – it was the best Shakespeare play we've ever seen."
And the retreat could be setting sail for an award as it competes in the unexpected category of Cuprinol's Shed of the Year 2019.
David, aged 53, said: "The design was very sketchy – I just drew something simple on a big piece of piper.
"I was mainly in my head. I visualised what I was going to make and then I went and started it.
"I had to order the materials so I had to get a rough idea of how much material I needed.
"The vast majority of the wood was ordered from a place in Wolverhampton, with the rest ordered from Great Barr sawmill."
The build took a total of three weeks to complete and cost £1,200 in wood alone – with work being completed over summer last year.
"We had a dry summer last year and with our summers they tend to not stay dry for very long," he said.
"I went into a bit of a frenzy to complete it."
The author, who wrote The Celtic Holy Grail Quest and is working on a steampunk novel, said: "I'm quite proud of how it turned out because I did it in three weeks it was surreal.
"I saw when I finished and it was like 'how did that appear?' and 'did I really build that'?
"I tend to be very self-critical, so I will see faults in it – things I'm not happy with – but I'm really proud of it.
"It's nice and when people come round and visit and we host them in The Tempest.
"They always say 'if this is mine, I would spend all my time in it' and it means a lot to me."
Jules, aged 55, did all the painting of the shed – helping make it "ship-shape."
The shed is on a raised platform and at night is lit by blue lighting under the decking – with sounds of waves crashing down coming through their on-board speakers.
It is up against two other sheds, with a winner crowned by public vote.
An overall winner will then be crowned by a panel of shed experts, with the best shed receiving £1,000, a plaque and £100 of Cuprinol products.
"To win would be absolutely fabulous," he said.
"But it's just a huge honour to have been shortlisted.
"It's just my humble little shed – I retreat there to do my writing and take time out in it.
"To have other people recognise it as worthy of being shortlisted is a massive honour.
"I'm just flabbergasted by the talent shown by the other entries."
Head judge and founder of the competition, Andrew Wilcox, said: “We’ve been absolutely blown away by the incredible, imaginative and innovative sheds entered into this year’s competition – and the entries in the West Midlands are a great cross section of this year’s entries.
“The creativity and imagination of all entrants never fail to amaze the judges. This year’s bunch are second to none."
The competition will close on August 29.
To cast your vote, visit www.readersheds.co.uk
