Genealogy Australia

The craft of the thatcher probably gives more pleasure to people than any other of our rural crafts; the inclusion in a country scene of a thatched house, cottage or barn often adds the element of continuity and stability which we like to think is characteristic of the English countryside.

Thatching is, nevertheless, a craft most people know nothing about and which is commonly thought to be dying out. In fact thatchers in all three materials (Norfolk reed, long straw and combed wheat reed) have had an assured livelihood over the last few years for the first time since the late 18th century. This book outlines the history of thatching in Britain from its use as the commonest form of roofing to the present and explains how the thatcher works with his traditional materials.

Contents:
Introduction
Thatching materials
The thatcher's tools
The method of thatching
Choosing and living with thatch
Places to visit
Further reading
Index