About Thatch

Materials

Long straw is the material used predominantly in East Anglia. The varieties of straw used are grown only for thatching as modern varieties are too short. The straw is cut and dried in the field and then threshed to remove the grain, both of which are labour intensive tasks. It is then prepared into yealms before being placed on the roof, which are basically large straw tiles. Long straw roofs have a 'softer' appearance than reed and combed wheat reed.

Water reed is often found near the coast and traditionally wherever reed beds were close by, for example The Fens of Norfolk. Reed is cut, dried and sorted into bundles which is the only preparation required before it is placed on the roof.

Combed wheat reed is predominatly found in the West Country Devon, Dorset and Cornwall). The material used is the same as long straw but it passed through a comber on the threshing machine which sorts and cleans the straw allowing it to be used in a similar way to reed.

Thatch has many advantages, in particular it is an excellent insulation material which keeps heating costs down, saving energy and reducing pollution. It also keeps houses cool in summer and has great sound proofing qualities.