1916 As part of the build up for the Battle of the somm an Army officer in the Royal Engineers was tasked with designing a better solution for the Storage and billeting of troops. At the time Allied forces used timber framed canvas huts that were rally not fit for purpose, being more a glorified tent. This Army officer was Major Peter Nissen of the 29th Company Royal Engineers with a background in Mine Engineering. So In April 1916 Major Nissen designed the now legendary Nissen Hut, that would be utilized throught WW1 by allied forces around the world.
WW2 During the second world war the hut again came into the favour of Allied Military as a cheep building. It was easily manufactured and used minimal materials in its construction compared to other builds. It was during this time that engineers repurposed the hut with addional variants, Like the Romney hut which became the largest of the hut familly. These were either used as Motor garages to provide machanics as shelter place to maintain vehicles, or in there largest form, a hanger to stor and maintain aircraft.
Allied Use When the US came into WW2 they also adopted the Nissen Hut and commisioned as US based company 'Quonset' to manufacture them for the US Army. This company continued to produce and manufacture this style of hut long after the war. As the US army pushed into a more tropical field of the war, so the Quonset company developed their unique double roofed hut for the US Marines. This consisted of a large secondary roof a few inches above the hut. This along with addional venting in the original hut, gave a good airflow through the building keeping them cool, long for the instalation of airconditioning units. Today many people in the US still call these hut Quonset huts, instead of the correct name of Nissen Huts.
Today Although the Nissen family did not gain from these huts, like the Quonset company did in the US, this due to wartime patenting laws. The family is now back involved with these Huts. As part of Raving Mad Abouts Charity event involvement to mark the centenary of the hut Raving Mad About got in touch with the grandson of Major Peter Nissen, a Richard Nissen, who in turn had the idea to revamp his grandfathers legacy into a modern role. With the involvement of Richard son, and great grandson George designed an Garden Pod version of the Hut. This repurposes the Nissen Hut into a garden office, or garden room.
