|
|
The material
Thatch was the most commonly used roofing material in the UK up until the early 19th Century. The type of thatch always depended on the locally available materials. For centuries, people would use turf or heather to thatch their buildings and you can still find heather thatch, for example, in the Western Isles of Scotland. The main thatching material was straw –either longstraw or combed wheat reed. In East Anglia, parts of the South West of England and other wetland areas of the UK, Norfolk or water reed was used.
With such a range of materials, thatchers could develop different styles and today you can see very clear regional differences across the UK.
Welsh slate started to be commercially produced from 1820 and the development of the canals and railways meant it could be made readily available outside of Wales. Thatch began to be used less and less and after the First World War and changes in agriculture, longstraw was no longer available. In the 21st Century, we have returned to using sustainable materials and where slate and tiles have once replaced thatch, owners are returning the thatch. Thatch is also used on new buildings too.
+44(0)1509 282860 
+44(0)1509 283162