About ‘hulls’……
‘Hulls’ have been used mostly as storage places for potatoes, root crops, dairy products such as milk, eggs and cream both for domestic use, and in farmyards for storage prior to taking the products to local markets.
‘Hull’ is not a mispronunciation of ‘hole’. It is derived from the Cornish word ‘huth’ meaning ‘cover’ or ‘shade’ in Cornish.
The photograph below illustrates a ‘hull’ with this example being situated in Four Lanes, near Redruth.
A listed building, much of the structure is located underground and it extends westwards for approximately 28 feet from the entrance steps. The side chambers, which are at right angles to the central passage, extend for some 15 feet to both the north and south of the passage.
Interestingly, Cornish dialect – not Cornish language, but dialect – describes a hole in the rocks or a shellfish store as a ‘hully’.
Existing across Cornwall and into Devon, the Cornish exported this method of storage, kept at an even temperature, to North America and very possibly, Australia.
There is some suggestion that the earliest ‘hulls’ date from medieval times and they were still being constructed and used in and up to the 19th century.
Local historian Michael Tangye has researched and written extensively about these unique features. See ‘“Hulls” in Cornwall: a survey and discussion’ in the Journal of Cornish Archaeology.
With thanks to Myghal Map Serpren.
The Heritage Journal 
4 comments
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21/02/2022 at 08:40
nancy wisser
Are these not at all related to fogous?
21/02/2022 at 09:50
Alan S
Only insomuch as to their location (and possible function as food stores), often within Cornish Hedges. Many Crows and Hulls are medieval or later in date. Fogous date from the Iron Age.
21/02/2022 at 09:53
nancy wisser
I’m aware of the age difference. But what I mean is, might it not be an ancient tradition carried down? They seem so similar in some ways. But admittedly I am far enough from both that I may not see the faults in that reasoning.
21/02/2022 at 09:57
Alan S
That’s always possible of course, but we have no real idea of the purpose of the original fogous. Crows and Hulls tend not to have the ‘creep’ element to them, which is a major design difference.