History Of Thatched Roof Cottages

Most thatch used in england is made of long wheat straw grown specially for the purpose.

History of thatched roof cottages.

Thatch became a symbol of poverty after other materials became available but has seen a resurgence in popularity especially among the wealthy. A good thatched roof not only makes a country cottage picturesque it is also remarkably long lasting. Wouldn t it just be the perfect place for a summer in england or a writing holiday. But thatched cottages.

25 lovely english thatched roof cottages. Thatched roof cottage in wendlebury england. Churches also used thatch frequently. A roof thatched by a skilled craftsman can last 40 to 50 years without needing refurbishment all the while providing excellent watertight insulation.

The thatched roof is the feature we associate most with the irish cottage. For every six or seven thatchers appearing in the 1851 census. At the time of writing we currently offer 50 properties across england and scotland with the majority of these cottages in the southern english counties of kent cornwall gloucestershire including the. Even into the late 1800s thatching was really the only roofing material available to rural residents in england s countryside.

Much later in the late 18th century thatched cottages became an extremely popular theme with the picturesque painters who tried to portray an idealized romantic sanitized version of nature. While labour was cheap and thatch was close at hand the craft more than held its own thousands of thatchers covering. This cane plant grows well in moist soils in temperate and fresh climates making it easily available in ireland. In both thatchers and thatched buildings over the last couple of centuries.

These traditional irish dwellings dot the irish country side built by a process kept safe by generations. A bit of tea some scones a good book. In 1300 the great norman castle at pevensey sussex bought up 6 acres of rushes to roof the hall and chambers. This impossibly quaint semi detached thatch roof cottage is located in the small village of wendlebury in oxfordshire.

A skilled thatcher uses domestic cane to create these beautiful roof lines. So why do so many cottages in england have thatched roofs. Holiday cottages with thatched roofs as you might imagine from a site like historic uk thatched cottages are our proverbial bread and butter. Thatched cottages are one of the most beautiful symbols of ireland.

P erhaps the most important single event in the history of the craft of thatching is the massive decline.