CATHERINE MARLOW Traditional straw thatching in times of shortage The 2020 harvest of thatching straw was poor, but there are ways of coping with short- term shortages that delay the need for extensive re-thatching and support local growers.
Rick coating in Muchelney, Somerset, in combed wheat reed, a traditional way of extending the life of the thatch coat
Sustainable, picturesque, and a good insulator: heather and gorse persisted much longer than in thatch is a vernacular material that is much lowland areas, but has almost now ceased. 1, 2 valued and admired. However, the availability of The layers of historic thatch preserved on thatching straw is dependent on good weather many thatched roofs reflect these regional varia for planting and harvesting, and on continued tions, as well as temporal changes as agricultural demand to make it a financially viable crop. The practices developed and the craft of thatching 2020 harvest was poor due to difficult weather adapted in response. Many contain rare and irre conditions, and this is likely to lead to shortages placeable archaeobotanical remains that make of thatching straw during 2021. However, there a major contribution to the archaeological and are ways of coping with short-term shortages historic values of the building. 3 The appearance that delay the need for extensive re-thatching, of thatch, how it is ridged, dressed and finished, 1 Moir, J, Letts, J sustain the significance of historic buildings and contribute to the architectural and aesthetic (1999) English Heritage Research Transactions, support local straw growers. values of the building, which in turn contribute Volume 5, Thatch: to the quintessential character of rural areas, Thatching in England Traditional thatch and significance creating a strong sense of place. 1790 to 1940, London, Although many plants have been used for But there is more to significance than simply James and James ² Cox, J, Letts, J thatching, by medieval times cultivated cereal appearance: there is also the question of authen (2000) English Heritage straw, particularly wheat and to a lesser degree ticity. Some people argue that water reed is an Research Transactions, rye, was the predominant thatching material in acceptable alternative to combed wheat reed Volume 5, Thatch: Thatching in England lowland areas. In the south-west, the straw was (CWR) because it can be made to look similar 1940 to 1994, London, combed to remove the grain and leaf, keeping – at least at first glance. But as the inspector in James and James straw undamaged to produce wheat ‘reed’. Across one recent appeal opined: ‘one of the important ³ Letts, J (1999) much of the rest of lowland England straw was purposes of listed building protection is to help Smoke-Blackened 4 Thatch:A unique source flailed, leaving the straw semi-crushed to produce distinguish the genuine article from imitation.’ of medieval plant remains threshed straw (nowadays known as ‘long straw’), from southern England, the predominant material. In the Norfolk Broads The current situation London, English Heritage and The (following the collapse of peat extraction for Growing thatching straw is a challenging busi University of Reading fuel) and some estuarine or fenland areas, reed ness. Crop quality depends on good weather ⁴ Appeal ref: APP/ beds were managed to produce water reed for throughout germination, cultivation and harvest. B9506/E/08/2092965, thatching. In some coastal, moorland, heath and Harvesting and processing are tough work, rely The Thatched Cottage, Chapel Lane, East upland areas of the UK, the use of wild plants ing on increasingly hard-to-source casual labour Boldre, Brockenhurst such as marram grass, sedge, bulrush, bracken, and, in many cases, on ancient machinery (some SO42 7WP
CONTEXT 167 : MARCH 2021 33 Wheat straw drying in stooks prior to combing
Combing wheat reed in the field
of which is more than 100 years old). And all this Poor harvests are part of the cycle of agri in a market which is seeing a decline in demand culture, and the thatching industry has always as owners switch to alternative materials: every been adept at coping with short-term shortages. straw roof changed to water reed is a nail in the Growers and thatchers alike have spoken of the coffin of traditional straw thatching. need for flexible organisation of their workloads; Throughout history, there have always been bringing forward smaller jobs, such as patching periodic bad harvests. The autumn of 2019 and ridging, and any water-reed jobs, delays was very wet in most of England and Wales. the need for large amounts of straw for as long Many farmers were unable to plant their crop as possible. They are also conscious of some as the ground was too wet. Some were only house owners’ desire for ‘neat’ thatch and find able to plant a small proportion of their normal that repairs are less popular than in the past. acreage. Germination rates were poor due to Flexible timing of jobs and accepting patching waterlogged soil. as a normal practice requires the cooperation Spring 2020 brought drought conditions, of house owners, and emphasises the need for resulting in shorter stems with some secondary conversations with thatchers to be made well in stems (tillers) being sacrificed by the stressed advance of work taking place. plants, and therefore remaining very short. Many in the industry are dismayed at the Variation in the height of the straw caused more lack of enforcement by planning authorities wastage during processing. The weather has cre when thatching materials are changed without ated a perfect storm of problems for thatching consent, as they consider this undermines the straw growers. thatching straw industry by reducing demand Historic England has been investigating the for their crop and skills. problems facing the thatching industry as a result of the poor harvest through telephone conversa Sustaining significance tions with growers and thatchers, and has pub When straw is in short supply, there may lished guidance on dealing with the shortage. 5 be understandable pressure on thatchers to ⁵ https:// Most growers have reported that, apart from use water reed. But recoating a long straw historicengland.org.uk/ being short, the quality of this year’s thatching or CWR roof with water reed can harm the advice/technical-advice/ buildings/thatching material is otherwise good; the quantity, however, significance of a listed building (as can replacing advice/ is significantly down – generally by between 20 long straw with CWR), as has been confirmed ⁶ Appeal ref: APP/ and 80 per cent (although a few growers have by numerous appeal decisions. As explained J0405/E/14/2213476, been exceptionally lucky and have had no reduc above, significance does not just derive from Mulberry Cottage, 25 Spring Lane, tion at all, and some even have surplus straw appearance. There is something intrinsically Great Horwood, from the 2019 harvest). Most, however, are valuable about the use of traditional craft skills Buckinghamshire limiting supply to just their regular customers. It and authentic materials, a view that led the MK17 0QP is apparent that those thatchers who have close inspector in one appeal case to conclude that working relationships with growers will fare best, ‘because the proposed thatch would not be the as will those who grow their own straw. They genuine article, the authenticity and integrity have forewarning of poorer harvests (so can plan of the asset, and thus its significance, would be accordingly) and priority access to the crop. unacceptably eroded.’ 6 A comment in another
34 CONTEXT 167 : MARCH 2021 Patching thatch in discreet weathered areas will delay the need for complete spar coating for this Somerset house for several years. case was that ‘Beyond the apparent impression recommend that planning authorities consider that the proposed material [water reed] offers an whether a change of material is clearly and con imitation of the appearance of traditional CWR, vincingly justified, as required by the National its use in this case would be no more than a Planning Policy Framework, taking into account superficial replica of the authentic product. This those issues of significance and authenticity would be harmful to both the special interest outlined above. The Historic England online and significance of the listed building.’ 7 guidance includes a sequence of questions to ⁷ Appeal ref: APP/ To avoid such harm, Historic England recom guide decision-makers about possible alterna J9497/Y/17/3177128, ‘Dymonds’, Dunsford, mends that, in lean years, alternatives to full tives to recoating straw thatch with water reed. Devon EX6 7DA recoating are considered. In the first instance, This will help conservation officers and planners ⁸ https:// as a number of thatchers to whom we spoke to seek clarity from applicants, and to make historicengland. explained, patching those areas that experience robust, defendable comments on applications, org.uk/research/ current/conservation the most wear can extend the life of the coat. while resisting any unjustified harm. research/sourcing Patching is a cost-effective way of maintaining traditional-materials/ a thatched roof, uses much less material than The future #Section4Text spar coating, and can usually be done from a 2021 will bring a new harvest of thatching straw. ladder or tower scaffold, avoiding the cost of full Early reports are that the new crop has been scaffolding. In the past, patching was the normal drilled successfully and is germinating well, but way of maintaining thatch, re-coating only being clearly it will be some time before we know if it done when the roof could no longer be kept has been successful. Should yields be low, our watertight through localised repair. guidance will be updated to take this into account. For larger areas of fairly uniform wear, some Traditional straw-thatched buildings are of thatchers advocate rick coating.This is a thin coat enormous value, not only to our historic envi of straw with surface fixings (also referred to as ronment, but also to our landscapes, the tourism a stack-coat or step-coat, and derived from the industry, agricultural and rural craft traditions, practice of protecting straw ricks with a thin coat as an archaeobotanical resource, and as a sus of thatch following harvest and before threshing). tainable building material. We should value the A very thin coat might last around three years, contribution that they make, and appreciate the while a thicker coat could last up to 10 years. challenges that farmers face in continuing to As a last resort, thatch can be protected grow this high-risk crop. using tarpaulins or strong plastic sheeting. This The listing building consent regime is a power is probably the best way to deal with serious ful tool for sustaining demand for thatching extensive leakage when structural timbers and straw, but simply maintaining current levels plaster ceilings are at risk of damage by water of demand is not enough: there is urgent need penetration. It is best fitted under wire netting for research to better understand and tackle to ensure that it is held securely at the eaves and the challenges faced by straw growers. Historic Catherine Marlow verges, and to reduce flapping in the wind. England is already funding straw-growing trials is an inspector of 8 historic buildings Nonetheless, applications for listed build in East Anglia and plans to undertake further and areas for Historic ing consent for use of water reed in place of research into thatching material production to England in the south CWR or long straw may increase this year. We help support the thatching industry. west of England.
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