E04 Page 14 Master thatchDIARYer raises the TheroHerald 3rdofJune 2011 By Mo Farrell IN his 22 years as a thatcher, 39-year-old Simon Richards from Alton has worked on more than 100 homes in Hampshire and further afield. His skills have been needed across Europe – in Norway where he was asked to thatch display housing for an African Awareness Week and in Germany where he took on his largest project to date, a hotel in Rostock. He has thatched a replica of a dream cottage for a Daily Mail competition at the Simon cutting an ornamental ridge using shears Long straw barn in Frogmore in the Meon Valley, re-thatched Hampton Court Flower Show 17 years ago and has featured in Channel 4’s Grand Designs. He has worked on houses for Ernie Els, the South African pro- fessional golfer, the rock band Yes, and Rebecca Knight, one of the Opera Babes. He also re- thatched one of the most striking 13 Market Square, Alton, Hants GU34 1HD properties in Ventnor, Isle of Wight, and Robert Burns’ home Advertising: 01420 82819 in Scotland. Editorial: 01420 82236 Thatching, constructing roofs using straw and grasses, is one Fax: 01420 541018 of the oldest surviving building crafts, perhaps going back as far Tele Ads: 01252 899299 as 500 BC. Almost every county in the Subscription/Circulation: 01252 899234 UK has thatched properties but Hampton Court reconstruction Simon making the peacock’s head email: [email protected] the south of England is particu- cal about claims for its longevi- and the owners are the custodi- and is dependent upon factors thatcher then works his way to larly well endowed with them. ty of up to 70 years and would ans. They have a small snippet, such as roof shape and design, the ridge, the bundles being held Website: www.altonherald.com The same barn two years ago However, overall numbers rather use quality straw which but a thatched house is in a time the pitch and its position (geo- in place under steel rods or nationwide have fallen consider- gives a shaggy finish and a roof capsule and when I thatch them, graphically and topographical- sways by iron hooks fixed to the ably from one million in 1800 to that can be up to two metres I am leaving my mark.” ly), the quality of the material rafters. about 35,000 in 1960. Today, thick. He leaves small items which and the skill of the thatcher. Another layer is then laid on there are about 24,000 listed He, and his 23-year-old he hopes will be found by future Today’s thatched homeowners top of the first and a final rein- Proprietor: Sir Ray Tindle CBE DL FCIS FCIArb thatched buildings as well as a apprentice, are currently work- thatchers. know the importance of sustain- forcing layer added along the fashion for newbuild thatched ing with straw on a house in “I have left an old mobile, a ing the thatch heritage and are ridge line. Pushed into place by Managing Director: Karen Sheppard properties, offering enough to Chawton. library card, things like that, and keen to keep the traditional look hand, the straw is aligned and keep the 1,500 thatchers in “I fell into something I really I have found old papers, Black and enjoy its new-found finished with a square tool called work. love,” says Simon, who is Cat cigarettes, and a business favourable image and appeal. a leggatt. Traditionally, materials avail- dyslexic and feels lucky to have card of a thatcher from Norfolk.” Another plus is that with 21st It’s at the ridge line that the able locally were used, such as found his niche. Examples of Simon’s crafts- century anti-fire techniques, thatcher can leave his signature, EDITORIAL reed, sedge, flax, broom, grass, “I discovered I had an ability manship can be seen across the such as flame retardant barriers in Simon’s case a peacock. heather and straw, and although and am proud to be among a area, from Tunworth and Beech and sprays, thatched houses are “I’m very very lucky. I do it thatch was generally regarded as group of talented master thatch- to Frogmore in the Meon Valley less likely to go up in flames. because I love it. It’s a craft, it’s Editorial Manager: Tony Short the poor man’s roofing material, ers. It has taken me 12 years to and Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. “Ninety per cent of fires in not a job and I’m creating some- Chief Reporter: Moira Howells churches and great houses too perfect, but I can now make a He estimates the cost of thatch are through the chimney thing. It’s not an everyday job were occasionally thatched, peacock, which I incorporate thatching an average three-bed- stack,” says Simon, “but now that everyone else can do. notably Pevensey Castle in into the structure of the roof roomed cottage is between there are precautions you can Some of my most rewarding Cutting an eave using shears Sussex. thatch. I use an old form of £12,000 and £16,000, but the take. It’s the heat transfer thatching is when owners con- Sub-editor: Charlie Whiting Improved transport and mech- thatching with long straw. It’s sky’s the limit for larger proper- through the brick and log burn- vert tile or corrugated tin roofs, Sports Editor: Carl Obert anisation spelt the decline of the very labour intensive. I believe it ties. However, it adds value to ers, in particular, are really bad. especially when they save a thatching industry – the growth is a dying art.” the property, often tens of thou- Open fires are fine but with building from dilapidation by of the railways meant that tiles Simon was apprenticed to a sands of pounds more than the modern flues where heat rises to using traditional skill and crafts- ADVERTISING and slates could be used more thatcher in Holybourne. same house with a tiled roof. 300 degrees, that’s when you get manship. It’s special and I feel widely and the introduction of Working under several different A good thatch will last heat transfer.” very privileged, and for me, the combine harvesters in agricul- craftsmen as he learnt his trade, decades. Typically, combed After preparing a building for appeal of the thatch is that it’s ture made wheat straw unusable he witnessed the good and the wheat straw and short straw will re-thatching, the thatch is tied in romantic and natural.” Sales Manager: Tina Lemon for thatching. bad, learnt from it and now calls last 20 to 40 years, water reed up bundles and a single layer is Altonian Simon, is also chair- Alton Representative: Alex Gardiner Wheat straw was commonly himself a master thatcher. to 70 years and long straw 10 to placed on the roof beams and man of Alton Round Table. used in the south and West It’s a dangerous job and he 15 years. However, performance pegged into place with rods of To contact him, call 01420 Country. Either known as long has fallen off roofs and ladders, forecasts of new thatch can only hazel or withy. 83719 or 07932 739160 or email DISTRIBUTION straw or combed wheat reed, the but hardly ever does the weather be made on a case-by-case basis Starting at the eaves, the [email protected] material is now less prevalent prove so wild that he is deterred. Circulation: Karen Hobbs and Norfolk reed, the traditional “I can work in wet weather, East Anglian thatching material, hot sunshine, even snow – I just Farnham Castle Newspapers Ltd., a part of Tindle Newspapers Ltd. now dominates, and is grown sweep off the snow and get on specifically for the thatching with it. Only if it’s very windy industry. is it too dangerous,” he says. ❐ The Herald is published by Farnham Castle Newspapers Perceived by most thatchers “My favourite point is finish- Ltd. at 114-115, West Street, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7HL, and Creating an ornamental straw peacock as the Rolls Royce of thatch, ing the job, leaving a happy cus- printed by Harmsworth Quays Printing Ltd., some 30 per cent of new thatch- tomer and looking at the job Surrey Quays Road, London, SE16 7ND es are constructed using water you’ve just created. Most reed. Even so, Simon is scepti- thatched properties are listed DOUBLE CROSSWORD No 10,947 Dilapidated barn The same building fully restored A thatched well in Kingston CHURCH SERVICES PETERSFIELD 10.30am-noon, with coffee afterwards. Creche and junior church groups. 6pm, Evening Services (1st Sun The Parish Eucharist (3rd Sunday,Family service); Sung Holy Communion. 4th Sun: 11am, Sung Family SUNDAY SERVICES Sunday School available, and visitors welcome. Holy Communion with prayer for healing). Contact: 6.30pm, 1st Sunday,Youth service; 3rd Sunday, Communion. 5th Sun: 11am, Sung Holy Communion. St Peter’s, Petersfield. 8am, Holy Communion. Contact: Pastor David Sachsemaier on 01730 890401 RevDeborah Scott-Bromley. 01420 477550. Eucharist with Ministry of Healing; 4th Sunday, The King’sChurch, Alton. Meets every Sunday for ACROSS DOWN 9.30am, Parish Communion. 11.15am, Said Matins; or e-mail [email protected]. St Mary Magdalene, Oakhanger. 1st Sunday: Evensong. Formidweek and other services, see the Worship at 10.15amatThe Alton Day Centre, 6pm, Evensong. Sunday School and creche, 9.30am. FREE CHURCHES 9.30am, Family Communion; 3rd Sunday: 6pm, parish magazine or ring the parish office (9am to Chawton Park Road, Alton. Children’swork and 1 Pay a visit to 100 - 2.