Peat was the principal fuel until the 20th century. Each farm in Eskdale had its own individual peat hut. The peat huts were usually located on unenclosed common land near the marked break of slope between the peat-yielding plateau and the steep drop down to the valley floor. Documentary evidence suggests that some were in existence by the end of the 16th century and oral evidence suggests that the huts ceased to be used for peat storage by the early 20th century. Each of the peat huts on the common land above Boot and Dalegarth Station are still allocated to individual commoners.