Garden Hammocks
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Where did hammocks come from?
It’s widely thought that the hammock originated approximately 1000 years ago with the Mayan indians in Central America. The Mayan hammocks are still considered the most comfortable and ingenious of all hammocks to this day.
The hammock remains an important household item in many countries such as Costa Rica, Mexico, Nicaragua and El Salvador and derives its name from the material first used in their construction - the bark of the Hamak tree, which was later replaced by the fibrous bark of the more abundant Sisal plant.
The spread of the hammock
Christopher Columbus was responsible for introducing hammocks to the Europeans after his expeditions to the Bahamas in the late 1400’s. By the early 17th century, the English Navy had adopted the hammock as a space saving alternative to sleeping on the decks and in the 19th century the British prison system followed suit.
It is thought that the popularity of the hammock in the New World is due in part to the safety offered by keeping the body off the ground and away from snakes and other dangerous creatures.
Hammocks today
Most modern hammocks are made from cotton or synthetic fibres woven together by machine, although it is still possible to by more traditional hammocks similar to those still in use in Mexico and South America.
The traditional type of hammock is basically just a woven net. The spreader bar variety of hammock employs a wooden or metal bar at each end of the hammock to allow for easy access. If you don’t have suitable anchor points on which to hang your hammock, there are frames available which allow you to position your hammock wherever you choose.
There are few things as comfortable or versatile as a hammock, so as summer starts to get underway it’s time to swing into action!
