What is the history of the thatched cottage?
The English thatched cottage began in the primitive thatched dwellings of the Bronze age. From as far north as the Scottish Highlands to the most southern point of England thatch was used, the thatch may be made of heather, straw, or reeds depending on the area.
What are the different types of thatching used in English cottages?
The type of thatching used in English cottages varies depending on the region. Southern England cottages in Hampshire, Dorset, and Devon use a heavy layer of wheat straw to create the roof. Roofs in Somerset and in some parts of Devon use wheat reed to create a cleaner line.
When were cottages built in England?
Nearly all the half-timbered old English cottages we see today were built around this time 1550 to 1650. The busiest time between 1575 and 1650 after this building seemed to slow down, not many cottages were built after this time. The ones that remain may well have been added onto and made a little bigger.
What are thatched half-timber cottages?
Thatched half-timber cottages and rural Normandy are synonymous, evoking images of lush green cottage farms with chickens and ducks foraging in the yard. In parts of France the ridge of thatch roofs is planted with Irises.
What is a thatched cottage?
Where did the English thatched cottage originate?
What is the oldest form of roofing?
Why do thatches need straws?
How thick is a thatched roof?
What is cottage ornée?
Where is thatch used?
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When were thatched cottages built?
Most thatched-roof houses in the British Isles are remnants of an earlier time, dating to the 19th century or even as far back as the 16th. But as 21st-century buyers build second homes in the countryside, they often choose to have the older, rustic look thatching gives.
Where is the oldest thatched cottage in Ireland?
The Crosskeys Inn County Antrim is the oldest thatched pub in Ireland. Renowned for its traditional music offering the Crosskeys Inn is a unique, authentic Irish traditional pub. Welcoming visitors from all around the world, famous for its Guinness and Irish Whiskey offering, it's a must see for all visitors.
Which county has the most thatched cottages?
For its size, Dorset has more thatched houses than any other part of the country, with nearly a tenth of them located here – that's around four per square mile.
Which country has the most thatched houses?
A: The United Kingdom and Ireland are known for the strength of their past and present thatching tradition. A 2013 report estimated that there were 60,000 properties in the UK and Ireland with a thatched roof.
How old are Irish stone cottages?
“The oldest of these stone cottages will date back to 350 years, though many were built in the 19th century,” he added. “I suspect that the average thatched house is just under 200 years old.”
How old are Irish cottages?
The Irish Cottage is iconic and literally grew out of the landscape due to the fact that most of the materials used would come from within a short distance away. Early cottages developed in the 1700's from the single room hut without a foundation to a plan with 2 rooms around the large fireplace and an attic.
How long does a thatched roof last?
Contrary to popular opinion, a thatched roof lifespan may be as long as that of a standard roof. According to Heart of England Thatchers, they can last between 15 and 40 years if properly maintained. The ridge may need to be replaced more frequently; between 10 and 15 years.
Are there any thatched roofs in the USA?
And many people don't even know what a thatched roof is. While there are 55,000 thatched homes in the United Kingdom, there are only eight in the United States, McGhee said.
What are thatched roofs made of?
The three main thatching materials in use today are water reed (often known as Norfolk Reed although a large amount is imported from Eastern European countries), longstraw and combed wheat reed. Sedge, a grass-like plant which grows in wetland areas, is also used extensively in ridging.
Do thatched roofs get moldy?
Natural thatch, if done properly can resist it, but over time, many do develop thatch roof mold. This is so unfortunate because thatch roofing is inherently durable and beautiful.
Do thatched roofs leak?
Thatch roofs are known for being great at keeping water out of your home or building. Thatch roofing materials are naturally waterproof so they won't become waterlogged and seep into your interior, and they're piled on top of each other so that it becomes impenetrable to rain and other elements.
What are the problems with thatched roofs?
Leaking. Perhaps the most common and obvious problem with thatched roofing is the potential for leaks. These can come from all areas of the roof, including the ridge, valleys and corners.
What are old Irish houses called?
The common Irish word for a house is tech, Lat. tectum. A dwelling in general is denoted by arus; a homestead by baile, now generally anglicised bally, but used in a more extended sense to denote a townland. The word brug or brugh [broo] was also applied to a large dwelling.
What are Irish cottages called?
Traditional Irish Thatched Cottages – In olden times the thatched cottages were very popular throughout Ireland. They provided homes of character, comfort and beauty which varied from one region to another in response to local climates and conditions.
What are old Irish houses made of?
The traditional farmhouses in Ireland are most often wattle and daub, made from mud, manure, and straw with timber beams. The outside was covered in whitewash to brighten everything up. Some homes were made from stacked stones, with clay in between or even dry stacked.
What is a straw roof called?
A thatch or a thatch roof is a roof made from straw or reeds.
Where is the thatch roof cottage?
Thatch roof cottage in Devon, where a fifth of all Britain's thatched roofs are located. With the history that thatch has, there are numerous examples going back to antiquity: The Howick House, a few miles east of Alnwick in England, dating as far back as the Mesolithic era (8,000 to 2,700 BC) is known to have been thatched. ...
Which house has the earliest thatch roof?
The Howick house is reported to have one of the earliest known thatch roofs.
How thick was the thatch on the Inca Empire's roof?
The thatch on the nobility's roofs is said to have been six feet thick!
What was the Roman thatched roof used for?
Iron age (1,200 to 600 BC) towers and fortresses used thatch for roofing. Roman writers mention that the thatched hut of Romulus was preserved in the heart of Rome on Palatine Hill, to remind Romans of their rudimentary origins.
What is a T hatch roof?
T. hatch roofing has a history that goes back thousands of years, making it one of the most time-tested types of roofing. It was the predominant roofing material in many places until the 1800s and remains the signature roofing of the country cottage. Thatch roof cottage in Devon, where a fifth of all Britain's thatched roofs are located.
How did the introduction of the combine harvester affect the availability of quality thatching materials?
The introduction of nitrogen fertilizers also reduced straw’s longevity.
When did thatch reach its highest refinement?
During the mid to late middle ages (late 15th to early 16th centuries), Europe recovered from the black plague, and England and France recovered from the hundred years war. A time of peace and prosperity resulted, eventually producing the renaissance. This is when thatch reached some of it’s highest refinement.
What percentage of thatched houses are listed?
While Fowler favors triticale, he doesn’t always have a choice in his materials. In England, 95 percent of all thatched houses are Listed, meaning they have been dubbed historic structures and their character has to be preserved. Early thatchers used whatever materials were at hand.
What is thatched roof?
What was for centuries the roofing of the poor has now become the roofing of the rich. Thatched roofs are stylish, expensive, and quintessentially English. This is the story behind the thatched roof quaintness.
How does Fowler get his tongs?
Fowler takes a small bundle of straw, taps it down so that butts are even, lays it down, and gets all straw running in the same direction so it is all smooth and level. Then he takes a stick of split hazel sharpened at both ends, twists it to make a pair of tongs, and pushes it in around the bundle.
How thick is a hazel thatch?
This simple device, called a spar, fastens the bundle to the surface, the hazel’s natural springiness holding it in. The new thatch is 10 to 14 inches thick, and the spars work remarkably well. “It goes down as tight as if you’re putting a nail in a piece of wood,” Fowler says. The work takes place in near silence.
Why is my thatched roof burning?
The main causes of fire are faulty wiring or badly constructed, or old, chimneys that release sparks that land on the roof. Chimneys should be properly built and maintained, and any wiring should be done by a licensed contractor.
Where is the Fowler roof rethatched?
On one of the first fine days of spring, Fowler is rethatching one-half of a 16th-century home in rural Oxfordshire. Because of uneven weathering, the owner didn’t need to rethatch the other half of the roof, but nonetheless, the process will take weeks.
What is a master thatcher?
Modern homes and even garden gazebos are being thatched, and the style is becoming increasingly popular in North America. The craftsmen who make and maintain these roofs are called master thatchers. Their work looks deceptively simple.
What type of thatching is used in English cottages?
The type of thatching used in English cottages varies depending on the region. Southern England cottages in Hampshire, Dorset, and Devon use a heavy layer of wheat straw to create the roof. Roofs in Somerset and in some parts of Devon use wheat reed to create a cleaner line.
How long do thatched roofs last?
There are actually more thatched roof homes in England than in any other European country, and these roofs can last for up to 50 years if maintained well. Thatched roofs have become part of the very fabric of the English countryside, depicted in paintings, photographs, and other media.
What color are the two sections of the thatched roof?
The two sections of this lovely thatched roof building are made distinct by painting one half in a cream and the other in a bold white.
What was the only roofing material available in England?
Even into the late 1800s, thatching was really the only roofing material available to rural residents in England’s countryside. Thatch became a symbol of poverty after other materials became available, but has seen a resurgence in popularity, especially among the wealthy.
What is thatching in construction?
Thatching is the craft of building a roof with dry vegetation like straw, water reed, sedge, rushes, or heather. The materials are layered, so any moisture is kept away from the inner roof.
What is the Knutsford Heritage Centre?
While visiting the town, you can also visit the Knutsford Heritage Centre, which is located in a 17th century timber-framed building that was formerly a blacksmith’s forge in the 19th century.
Where is the black and white cottage?
This great example of the ‘black-and-white’ style of thatched cottage is located in Knutsford, one of the most affluent villages in Cheshire . The lovely village is characterised by “sanding the streets” which means that the streets are decorated with colored sands in patterns and pictures.
How did cottages evolve?
It is believed that cottages evolved as advancing building techniques employed for the larger estate houses trickled down through the laborers dwellings. The materials used varied from region to region as they would generally be sourced within a 5 mile radius. The only method of transport would be a donkey or ox and cart. Stone would predominantly be used in coastal and rocky areas, muddy clay in the midlands and even turf in boggy areas. Cottages literally grew out of the landscape that surrounded them.Where a few cottages were located together the community became known as a Clachán – a type of farming collective. The surrounding land within a clachán was divided up amongst the inhabitants in scattered plots of good, medium and bad grazing land – this was known as the Rundel System. A similar system of ‘commonage’ still exists today where no one farmer owns the land but several maintain grazing rights.
When were Irish cottages invented?
Irish Cottage History. Although it seems cottages have been around forever, they are a relatively recent occurrence dating back to around the 1700’s. Prior to that, our ancestors lived in round hut style dwellings built of wattle and daub, these dwellings would be built together in a community and surrounded by a ‘moat’ type defense mechanism.
What is the hearth wall in a cottage?
The hearth wall itself was usually very deep and extending to the ceiling with the chimney stack protruding further above the roof . As a result of this, the chimney wall is often one of the best preserved features of abandoned cottages today. The fireplace was the heart and soul of the cottage, about which daily life revolved – cooking, drying, heating and a focal centre for social gatherings. The fire was never allowed to extinguish with ashes strewn over it at night to keep the embers alive for morning. The importance of the hearth in cottage life is illustrated in one of our most famous sayings, loosely translated as ‘there’s no place like home’, the actual literal translation is ‘there’s no fireplace like your own fireplace’:
What is the material used for thatching?
The materials used for thatching varied according to the regions produce, in areas with good arable land it was oaten or wheaten straw , other materials included heather, rushes, marram grass and flax where there was linen industry. Another roofing feature of coastal areas is that of ropes securing the thatch to the cottage like a large hairnet to brace it against the abrasive weather conditions.
How thick are cottage walls?
The walls of a cottage were typically about 600mm thick to support the roof and beams (as opposed to the 300mm standard today), this led to the attractive deep window reveals found in most cottages.
Where is the hearth located in a house?
The fireplace or hearth usually formed of stone and located at the center of the house with a bedroom behind it to further absorb the heat. Some fireplaces were built of wattle and daub, however remnants of these are few and far between as the introduction of the hotter burning fuel – coal necessitated stone flues to prevent chimney fires. Although a central hearth was prevalent there are many examples of cottages where the hearth is located on a gable wall and yet more where they were at either end of the cottage – sometimes to heat a bedroom and other times purely for aesthetic reasons.
How deep were cottages?
Although cottages came in many sizes, they were all only one room deep. The length of the timbers available for the roof determined the width of the house. For many inhabitants of coastal areas and islands, the primary source of rafters was timber washed ashore from the wrecks of ships.
The traditional or vernacular houses of the Irish countryside are an endangered species at this time in their long history. However, it is still possible to pick out examples in each area to illustrate adequately how they looked
The traditional or vernacular houses of the Irish countryside are an endangered species at this time in their long history. However, it is still possible to pick out examples in each area to illustrate adequately how they looked.
References
Danaher, K. 1975 Ireland's Vernacular Architecture. Mercier Press, Cork.
Why were old English cottages torn down?
Old English cottages in the countryside were also torn down when sheep farming came into vogue. English wool was of excellent quality and in demand abroad and with the event of the Black death in 1348 England lost half her population, labour was scarce and in demand and hundreds of acres of land were going to seed.
What is the history of old English cottages?
Old English Cottages. Old English cottages begin their life in the Tudor and Stuart times when England was enjoying a increase in prosperity. The old way of life was changing, feudalism was becoming a thing of the past. Until this point old English cottages were really primitive dwellings that just did not last.
What was the result of the rise of the craftsman?
In the town wealth was increasing too, the rise of the craftsman was the result. They built houses superior to the country cottage which they adorned with bargeboards which you do not see on cottages that were built later.
What style of cottages were replaced by the Queen Ann?
In the first half of the seventeenth century cottage building came to an end. The old English cottages were replaced by grander and more elegant Queen Ann and Georgian styles.
What caused the destruction of cottages on many estates?
Turning the lands over to pasture had caused the destruction of cottages on many estates. This too created the wealth of building over this period. It was as if everyman was a builder. They built out of necessity and out of the love for it.
What is an English cottage?
The English cottage belongs to a time of craftsmanship when things were made by hand, a time sadly gone by, replaced by the Industrial Revolution and the mass manufacturing age. The English cottage has evolved from the most primitive hut to a charming old home.
What was the effect of the manor house on the 15th century?
In the fifteenth century general comfort increased. The manor-house grew in size as new rooms were added, including bedrooms and dining rooms.
What is a thatched cottage?
The thatched cottage was becomming a part of the English country estate by the nighteenth century when the gentry wanted a taste of the good life and the simple pleasures of cottage living. The humble cot became the Cottage Ornée. These cottages are large by comparison and no money has been spared to build them.
Where did the English thatched cottage originate?
The English thatched cottage began in the primitive thatched dwellings of the Bronze age. From as far north as the Scottish Highlands to the most southern point of England thatch was used, ...
What is the oldest form of roofing?
From as far north as the Scottish Highlands to the most southern point of England thatch was used, the thatch may be made of heather, straw, or reeds depending on the area. Thatching is one of the oldest building crafts and the thatched roof is one of the oldest forms of roofing.
Why do thatches need straws?
Thatching needs whole straws so that they can be aligned in bundles to place on the roof. For this the straw needs to be harvested by hand. When thatch ceased to be the cheapest form of roofing because tile, especially Welsh slate in the 1820's became available the English thatched cottage began its decline.
How thick is a thatched roof?
The average thatched roof in England is about a foot thick and some English country thatch cottages are given an even more generous helping that gives the roof the soft lines of a snow drift, as if the cottage is wrapped up, all cosy in a blanket with its eyes or windows peeking out.
What is cottage ornée?
The Cottage Ornée is a part of England's country paradise. Thatching has not changed much since mediaeval times and modern advances have not helped. The modern strains of wheat are two short and the combine harvester cuts the stalks too high and makes a mess of the straw.
Where is thatch used?
Thatch was used as a form of roofing for all types of cottages, the half-timbered cottages in the woods, the stone cottages of the Cotswolds and the cob cottages of the south west of England. Some of the once major corn growing counties are listed below, here you can find the English country thatch cottage. Norfolk. Suffolk.
Europe
- Through the dark ages, thatch was used on the poorest peasant’s homes as well as the wealthiest king’s halls. The middle ages saw a variety of building types from almshouses, hospitals, houses, chapels, guildhalls, and castle gatehouses, many of which were thatched. For example, in the 1300s the Pevensey castlein Sussex purchased six acres of water reed to provide roofing for its …
United States and Canada
- As European settlers crossed the Atlantic to North America they brought their thatching traditions with them. Jamestown, New Amsterdam, and many other settlements were first roofed with thatch. As colonization spread west, especially into the plains where less forests were found, thatch was commonly used. Many of the Forts and posts of the Hudson Bay company used that…
Africa
- Thatch huts are an African icon. Some argue that their shape was inspired by the Egyptian pyramids. They are integral to Africa’s roots and architectural legacy. In Southern Africa, the Zulu, the Swazi, and the Nguni construct thatch domed huts. A ring of poles is anchored in the ground and brought together at the peak. The peak is either a smooth dome (early Xhosa) or to a conica…
Pacific Islands
- The Samoan word for all house types from large to small is fale. The frame is shaped into a dome and when complete is covered with thatch. If available, the preferred thatch is dry sugarcane leaves. Otherwise the coconut palm leaves are used instead. Iconic of Filipino culture, the nipa hut or bahay kubo is a house built on stilts with a thatched roof. The roof is tall and steep with broa…
Latin America
- Many of those native to South and Central America such as the Maya, Inca, and Aztec lived in thatch homes. Even to this day, in rural areas of Latin American such as the Yucatán Peninsula, it’s not uncommon to find thatched homes built similar to those of their forefathers. From what we've found in archeological remains and colonial accounts of the Inca, thatch was the main roo…
Asia
- Shinto temples and shrines are well known for their thatch roofs. They are also known for being kept in prime condition. The time span differs from building to building, but most, if not all, Shinto temples and shrines are rebuilt every 10 to 30 years! Some of these buildings predate Buddhism in Japan, which means they have been rebuilding them fo...