Local Building Traditions - Thatch
 
'The Cream'

In Devon, cob and thatch go together like scones and clotted cream. The sweeping line of a thatch roof complements the rounded softness of cob and completes a harmonious and organic whole.
It represents the survival of a craft tradition with its origin in prehistory and, even in existing roofs, there are many examples in Devon – far more than in any other county – of original layers of thatch being smoke blackened from the days before chimneys and upper floors were inserted in buildings. The earliest positively dated houses in the country are from the thirteenth century and below is an illustration from one of these houses showing rare hazel wattling supporting the original thatch layer.

 

(from a house in Stockland, East Devon)

The surveyor must consider the following factors in assessing a thatch roof:
  • Condition and Longevity – affected by roof pitch and adequacy of construction, material – now usually either combed wheat reed or water reed, thatching style, local environmental conditions, age of thatch and depth over fixings, bird and rodent damage.
  • Legislative Controls – i.e. is the building Listed or on a Conservation Area and are any changes of material or style likely to have been carried out with the necessary consents.
  • Fire Safety – in particular condition of electrical wiring, safety of chimneys and flues, access and fire fighting facility.


Thatch coat wearing thin, with horizontal fixings –
sparred liggers – showing through


Thatching in progress

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