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New Roof 2 |
The Ridge is usually made from straw and generally the first part of the roof to degrade. What remained of the wire protecting it from animal attack is removed with the top layer of straw to reveal its construction.
Dressing up the bottom of the old thatch.
(L) The roof is then thoroughly dressed all over to remove all the dead outer skin and expose any weak points in the construction. This will also pin-point any high spots that need to be flattened (C) and (R), any low spots that need to be filled.
Two essential tools of the trade. (top) a comb is used to remove any lurking debris and to give the roof its final finish. (below) looking more like a glorified ping-pong bat, the Leggett or dressing tool is used to remove any loose rubbish and take the roof back to a sound base.
(L) Thatcher Roger Evans starts to build the difficult curve round the chimney on the Western gable. (R) Tina Nash continue to work towards the chimney from the south side.
Building up the Western gable: When the thatch was originally put on, the "base coat" or first layer of thatch was tied to the roofing battens with tarred twine and pinned to the purlins with strong metal crook shaped pins. Subsequent layers were then pinned to the base coat using "Sways" and "spars" of Hazel. (L) Sways are now pinned directly onto the purlins underneath, using screws for anchorage and stainless steel wire to secure the sways themselves. (C&R) The thatch is gently fanned out by hand to give a natural, uniform finish. It may come as a surprise to find that the thatcher in the centre picture is Japanese. Her name is Yuriko and she is spending some time in England learning some new techniques before heading home.
Hazel "spars" pin the horizontal "sways" into place