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Water reed
Popular in locations such as East Anglia where the broads
provided a ready supply of the material. When houses were
built in the early 1600's, reed from local streams would have
been used - especially where wheat was still not widely grown
- so look out for road names describing this situation to
allow you to argue the point with conservation officers who
may want to insist on combed wheat even though it would not
have been the original material!
Now imported from France and the Danube Delta as supplies
in the UK have become expensive.
Long straw
Originally hand cut or reaped and dried in "stooks".
The straw was cheap and was widely used for thatched roofs
where wheat (corn) was grown.
Combining has largely eliminated this source of material
as it fragments the wheat stalks and new varieties have much
shorter stems now.
Combed wheat/rye reed
English Heritage is pushing to maintain this material on
many roofs even though professional thatchers feel water
reed is a much better and more economical material. Combed
wheat reed will last about 20 years compared to a water reed
roof that will last up to 80 years in drier parts of the
country.
Combed wheat reed is still popular in the West Country where
it appears to stand up to rain better than water reed.
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Thatching terms: Taken from 'Thatching with Long Straw' by Keith Quantrill and John Letts
Bed: A prepared heap of long straw from which the yealms are drawn
Crook or Spike: A steel rod varying from 200-300mm (8"-12") in length, pointed at one end, with
a turned head at the other, used in securing thatch to roof by driving into rafters
in conjunction with a sway
Gable: The finished edge of thatch overhanging
the gable wall (also known as flue, verge or barge)
Ligger: Long lengths of split hazel or willow tapered at each end
Pinnacle: A raised end of the ridge, surmounting gable or top point of hip
Ridge Roll: A bundle of reed or straw 100-200mm (4"-8") in diameter and of any suitable length
used for building up ridge prior to capping
Ridge Types:
- Plain finished flush with the surface of the roof
- Decorated cross sparring or herringbone pattern
- Straight cut 75-100mm (3-4") thick block ridge, cut in a straight line below
the bottom-ligger
- Ornamental bottom edge of ridge cut to any desired pattern
Spars: Split hazel or willow rods pointed at each end and twisted in the centre to form a staple (also known as broaches, spics)
Stulch: A strip of thatch approximately 30" (760mm) wide running from eave to ridge (also known as strake)
Sway: Lengths of round hazel, willow or mild steel laid horizontally across each course
Wads: A round bundle tied at the ears to form a tapered bunch usually made with butts dressed at an angle
Yealm: A prepared drawn layer of long straw |
