Traditionally trained in combed wheat straw and water reed thatching

Climbing the ladder

Thatching to me is a practical art. The outcome should be beautiful, with a high attention to detail and skillful craftsmanship, and the technicalities, which are mostly hidden beneath the surface, should be approached with consideration.

My early years as an apprentice I spent on the ground developing the basics needed in order to climb that first rung of the ladder. Every step closer to getting on the roof was as exciting as the next.

Understanding the fundamentals are what have made me the thatcher that I am today. Learning the nature of the materials and how to handle them creates a solid foundation for the craft.

Over my career I have worked from Cornwall to Somerset, Wales and Hampshire using combed wheat straw, water reed and long straw, restoring old and adding new.

I have been involved in the full process of harvesting and processing combed wheat straw with prior mentor master thatcher Nigel Bunce in Somerset. This also gave me true prospective and understanding on the widely used thatching material.

“Traditional apprenticeships start from the ground up. They teach you values, respect and true understanding of the craft ahead”.