History of Thatching

Development

• According to Jem Raison, the use of thatching appeared with the transition from cave dwelling to nomadism. Nomadic peoples used materials such as wild grass and heather. With the development of agriculture and settled communities, people used rye, oats and wheat.

Britain

• According to BuildingConservation.com, thatching was the most common roof covering in almost every part of Britain during the medieval period, remaining popular in rural areas until the late 19th century. Late 18th century "picturesque" painters depicted thatched cottages in their desire to promote an idealized, romantic image of nature, according to Britain Express.com.

Decline and Revival

• Thatching declined in rural Britain as the expanding railway system made other types of roofing material, such as clay tiles and slates, more widely available. The advent of the combine harvester, circa 1940, made wheat straw unusable for thatching. The Diseworth Heritage Trust estimates the number of thatched buildings in England declined from about one million in 1800, to about 35,000 by 1960. In 2009, however, there were still about 1500 people thatching in the United Kingdom, some roofing new buildings.