Great Kimble. Even when only stripping top layers, incredible amounts of material are often removed. This waste is taken to a local recycling centre to be composted along with other green waste types. Removal & disposal of waste is a huge part of any re-thatching job.
Great Kimble. All set for another 25 years.
Sedrup
Sedrup. Last thatched by my Uncle in the 1980's for the same customer.
Whiteleaf. The customer requested the roof be finished off with a pair of straw boxing hares. Needless to say this was the talk of the village.
Whiteleaf
Whiteleaf
Hartwell. Finishing off after a long wet winter.
Hartwell
Butlers Cross. A beautiful location right next to Chequers.
Dinton. Originally a tinned roof cowshead which subsequently had a timber framework built over the tin and then thatched.
Dinton.The roof of this former cowshed was in a terrible state of disrepair. Luckily it was returned to its former glory.
Weston Turville. Only a tiny ridge but very tricky to access with the only access to the rear being through the house. There are many aspects to take into account when pricing a job. No two are the same.
Ford. Three tonnes of combed wheat reed just arriving from the Devon/Somerset borders. Supplies of quality straw are becoming more and more scarce as the climate changes. The price too is increasing drastically year on year.
Ford. A very hot summer with 5am starts to avoid the sun.
Ford
Ford. A wishing well project where I received a welcome helping hand from my wife Amy.
Haddenham
Haddenham. It's rare to see the internals of a thatched roof in such a good untouched condition. You can still see the tarred cords which have been holding this thatch in place over 400 years.
Haddenham
Buckland. A beautiful farmhouse with wonderful grounds. One of my favourite locations.
Hartwell. Temporary repairs to see this roof through one more winter.
Little Hampden. A newly constructed poolside hut. People will say "Can you thatch a small outbuilding for me? It's only tiny". Don't be fooled. These sorts of projects involve an incredible amount of work considering their size.
Little Hampden
Little Hampden
Gubblecote
Gubblecote. Four large faces of thatch with intricate windows and valleys as well as a ridge on the inner four sides!
Gubblecote
Gubblecote
Gubblecote
Gubblecote
Gubblecote
Monks Risborough
Whitchurch
Weston Turville
Stewkley. The depth of the thatch fixings is more important than the overall thickness of thatch.
Hardwick
Hardwick
Building up the ridge at Little Hampden. A roof left to reach a terrible state of decay, yet it was still possible to salvage most of the historic thatch base layers.
Opening scenes from the very first episode of Vicar of Dibley. Originally being thatched by my father in 1994. Again seen with me working here in 2017.
Glis glis damage at Little Hampden
Glis glis damage rectified at Little Hampden
Little Hampden
Dunsmore. Another poolside hut. Another thatcher told this customer it needed completely re-thatching at a cost of over £8,000. Fortunately I managed to carry out some repairs at a fraction of the price.
Dinton. A consistent thickness of dense thatch, keeping an eye on the fixing depth
Dinton
Preston Crowmarsh. It;s important the thatch in valleys is kept as tight as possible as these are high wear areas.
Preston Crowmarsh
Dinton
Dinton
Tennis hut at Little Hampden. Previously thatched by my father in the 1980's. Left to rot over many years, the thatch had to be removed entirely in this instance to allow for timber repairs.
Tennis hut at Little Hampden
Towersey
Towersey. The very first roof I thatched and it went on to become highly commended in the Thatched House of the Year awards.
Towersey 2012
Weston Turville 2013
Whiteleaf 2014
Whiteleaf 2014
Whitchurch 2015
Whitchurch 2015
Whitchurch
Ford, Buckinghamshire
Ford. Making good the thatch after a new flat roof installation.
Again, making good after new flat roof installation.
Ridge & repairs in Weston Turville
Dinton
A cold January day in Cuddington. A new flush ridge.
Weston Turville 2022
Weston Turville 2022
New window apron in Bourne End
Horsenden, near Princes Risborough. Completed just in time for Christmas 2022 for Mervyn & Lucy.