One of the 60 thatched

roofs on the Holnicote

Estate in Somerset, where

the National Trust aims

to become self-sufficient

in the production of straw

for repairs.

Photo by Chris Wood

References

1 Moir, James and Letts,

John, Thatch: thatching

in England 1790-1 940,

English Heritage

Research Transactions,

Volume 5

Cox, Jo and Letts,

John, Thatch: thatch in

England 1940-1994,

English Heritage

Research Transactions,

Volume 6

2 Letts, John, Smoke

Blackened Thatch,

English Heritage and

the University of

Reading, 1999

3 Cox, Jo and Thorp,

John, Devon Thatch,

Devon Books, 2001

4 www.historicthatch.

co.uk

5 jlthatch@aol.com

Chris Wood works for the

building conservation and

research team at English

Heritage. He sits on the

IHBC technical panel

and COHT committee.

perfectly good condition. Some impartial testing and

validation is needed. English Heritage is currently

looking at the feasibility of running tests. While these

would still not answer all the uncertainties

surrounding the material and the craft of thatching, it

could provide some differentiation in performance.

The conservation officer is of course well aware of

these issues. Those who have been implementing the

advice contained in the English Heritage guidance

note Thatch and Thatching may need expert advice, as

was expected. Two recent appeal cases highlight this.

In both, the inspector allowed the appeals to change

the thatch from straw (one case of combed wheat reed,

the other long straw) to imported water reed. In both

cases the issue of longevity was raised, and the thatcher

argued about the need for the more ‘durable’ material

because of the proximity to trees. The decisions no

doubt hinged on his evidence as the one person with

experience of such circumstances. Providing

independent advice that backs up the conservation

case requires the services of someone of equal standing

— usually an experienced thatcher.

In most cases the owner is advised by the thatcher

who may well be biased towards the material with

which he or she is most familiar, and which can be

most readily obtained. Clearly specialist advice may

well be needed if the conservation officer questions

alleged shortages of good quality straw or the need to

change the material. The Conservation of Historic

Thatch (COHT) committee (Context 2000), which

includes a number of experienced thatchers and

growers, is assembling a list of those able and willing to

provide this sort of information to local authorities and

owners. The information can be accessed on the

website4 or by contacting Jack Lewis5 (former chair of

the Thatching National Standards Committee) at the

addresses below. A charge will be made for expert

advice provided for an appeal statement.

COHT is also involved in growing trials around the

country. These are developing some of the old strains

of wheat traditionally used for thatching. It is hoped

that these will extend the range of straw available and

perhaps prove the assertion that these older strains

produce stronger and more durable thatch. The best

known site being used is the National Trust’s

Holnicote Estate near Exmoor, which aims to be self

sufficient in straw, and also in hazel and willow for the

spars and sways. COHT is also working on an advisory

leaflet, Growing Straw for Thatching. This could answer

the many enquiries from farmers anxious to diversify

into this market.

The English Heritage guidance note urges local

authorities to research their own local traditions.

Devon Thatch3, funded by the county council and

English Heritage, is a very thorough analysis of that

county’s strong tradition. But these initiatives do not

need to be elaborate or expensive. Conservation

officers in Somerset, Hampshire and Oxfordshire are

considering carrying out surveys of their traditions.

John Letts has helped English Heritage and East

Lindsey district in Lincolnshire to begin the collation

of similar information, based on documentary and on-

site information. Ideally, a comprehensive survey could

be used to develop a local thatching policy which could

be included in the development plan.

Conflict still bedevils thatching though. Another

body has been set up by a number of individuals with

various interests in thatching under the acronym

PART (Protection of Ancient Roofing Traditions). Its

members consider that the English Heritage guidance

note distorts the true history of thatching and is a

threat to the ancient tradition.They have yet to publish

their own research but they argue that ‘like for like’

philosophies leave no opportunity for improved

materials to be used, nor for thatchers to display their

ingenuity. These points of contention are unlikely to be

resolved quickly.

30

CONTEXT 73 : MARCH 2002