Welcome to our website. We are one of the largest thatched roofing contractors in the UK, based in the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset.

Established since 1966, our experienced team of thatchers have been in business for over forty years and are expert specialists in thatching as well as suppliers to the trade.

If you have any queries on new-builds, re-thatching, ridging, general repairs, listed buildings, fire protection or any other aspects of the thatching trade please contact us.

Thatch roofing materials
Our ancestors used any materials that were available to them to cover their shelters.  Heather, marsh grasses, sedge, reed and bracken.  With the introduction of wheat and rye straw by the Romans our ancestors took the ears from the stalk with a sickle and hand flailed the grain from the ear, leaving the stalk standing in the field when ready and used for by the local thatcher. 

With the agricultural revolution the reaper binder and threshing machine came along and produced a material from the straw with ears and butts mixed together, which has become known as long straw.  In a few short years an attachment to the threshing machine, namely a reed comber came on to the market giving rise to machine made wheat reed.  Both materials were purely a by product of the farming industry and as the name suggests wheat reed imitated water reed and it is very difficult to tell the difference between the two when on the roof. Read more about thatching material changes...

Water reed, the classic roofing material
Water reed has also been used on thatched roofs for centuries and is much harder wearing and durable. A roof well thatched in water reed should last in excess of twenty five years and with regular maintenance can last up to forty five years and with little aesthetic difference to that of Wheat Reed.

Water Reed in France

Water Reed is a natural growing crop found in all areas of the world. The main supply of Water Reed from Britain is located in water reed beds in Norfolk and has been used on thatched roofs throughout the UK for many years. Read more about water reed and the thatchers choice...

Thatch Roof Fire Protection
Once started, a thatch fire is almost always unstoppable. We offer a monitored fire risk early warning system designed specifically for thatched properties, using innovative, intelligent technology to address an age-old problem. Read more about thatch roof fire protection...

Trade Suppliers
We supply to the trade a wide variety of thatch roofing products including water reed from Turkey, Hungary, Poland and other European countries. Read more about our trade supplier services...