The Listed Buildings Debate

In recent years the roofing materials used for re-thatching a listed building has been at the centre of an ongoing argument between listed buildings authorities, operating under English Heritage, thatchers and thatched property owners.

At a glance, one thatched roof appears like any other. The stance of the listed building authorities is that a "like for like" policy, where the materials used previously must be replaced by exactly the same type i.e wheat reed for wheat reed.

As craftsmen, we believe that to protect our industry and our thatched roofs, we need to ensure that our ancient craft can evolve and adapt to our modern environment. Rather than use inferior, unsustainable and outdated practices in the name of tradition and strongly favour thatching in Water Reed.

Reed cutting on the Camargue, France

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.

However, despite the revolutionary steam powered machinery, wheat reed and long straw are still labour intensive to produce and the older long stemmed varieties have become less attractive to modern farmers and with the introduction of the combine harvester, wheat with shorter stems; a less risky and quicker growing crop, has become the preferred choice. Still used today, it is now the crux of much debate between English Heritage and thatchers.

Reed cutters in Mozambique

This is because, the life expectancy of a roof thatched with combed wheat reed is between fifteen and twenty years, which although an improvement on the long straw, in many cases increasing poor quality has resulted in roofs failing prematurely.

The blame for poor quality, attributed to more intensive farming methods practises. Where chemical fertilizers releasing nitrogen into the soil, have a detrimental effect on the quality and longevity of wheat reed. Some roofs having to be re-thatched three times in thirty years.

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 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.

However, with conservationists having had a huge impact on this industry, which otherwise managed to survive unaided for many centuries, vast areas of wetlands have been reclaimed. As a result, there are now only twelve reed cutters operating in Norfolk and like wheat reed, intensive farming has effected the hardness of the reed with artificial fertilizers, creating nitrates and weakening the stems.

Due to this, our company imports reed from Europe where farming is less intensive and vast areas of quality material is sustainable and without this, our thatching industry would never survive. We have even supplied Norfolk Thatcher's with reed imported from Turkey, Hungry and Poland.

Our interest is in providing the best service for our customers and we believe that means providing the very best thatching materials available. It is English Heritage's belief that the character of these cottages will be lost with a change of material.

Faced with using the practices promoted by English Heritage, not only will our historical buildings be lost but so will our livelihood and if the owners of listed thatched buildings are continually forced to pay large sums to maintain their roofs, then before long the thatched dwelling would no longer be a picture of rural idyll but a financial burden to avoid

Original timbers exposed after stripping multi layered thatch

P.A.R.T.
P.A.R.T stands for The Protection of Ancient Roofing Traditions and was formed by four practicing thatchers who were totally opposed to English Heritages’ guidance and guidance notes on thatching.