13 May 2015

Thatches is having her hair done!

I often get emails asking if the house in the header is where I live. The answer is yes, we are fortunate enough to live in a beautiful thatched cottage on the river. Thatch is a wonderful roofing material, cool in summer and warm in winter, it has a very comforting, nurturing feeling, it doesn't matter how wild the weather is outside, we never hear the storm, as the sound is muffled by the thatch.  However it is necessary every so often (about 15 years) for our cottage to have the ridge (the decorative top part) replaced. The ridge is the sacrificial top layer that protects the integrity of the rest of the roof. The main roof is made of Norfolk Water Reed, but the ridge is straw. A few weeks ago a giant haystack appeared in our front garden, today there is only a little left.
some parts of the cottage look pitiful with bits of the roof missing...
while others have their new ridge in place (if a little untidy at present)
It amazes me how a few pieces of ash and hazel, can hold together a bundle of straw, that will make a watertight roof. We have a lovely Master Thatcher at work, glad of this beautiful weather...
The excitement of so much scaffolding, and thatchers around willing to play ball, proved too much for Jasper, so he decided to have a doze in the shade...


8 comments:

  1. I would think the material would need replacing more often. I know nothing about thatched roofing for a house. Interesting.

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  2. There's another fascinating craft - and it's always wonderful to watch a master craftsman at work, in whatever craft!

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  3. How wonderful! and it is remarkably durable and such a beautiful roof! That is one relaxed dog :)

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  4. So cool! So the underlayer never has to be replaced? I'd love to live -- or at least stay in -- a thatched house!

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  5. Thankyou for sharing :) My dream has always been to live in a quaint little thatched roof cottage, on the side of a steep hill, overlooking the countryside~ I know it will only ever be a dream for me, but I keep it always at the top of my 'list'. Thatching a roof is SUCH an artform in itself, not to mention the sound of the straw being worked, and the feel of that wonderful roof when finished! You are truly blessed and I love watching your blog for every now and then a little glimpse of it~ XOXOX

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  6. Very interesting, amazing how durable the thatch is, to only have to replace it every 15 years or so. I've always admired that picture on your header!

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  7. Hi Elaine thanks for sharing this on your blog, I blew all the photos up and in number 4 the tie down looks amazing like beautiful embroidery. How interesting it must have been to watch it been taken off then repaired, do you know if they recycle the old thatch as compost or is it burnt????? Cheers Glenda

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