Thatch is enjoying a revival in England and is arguably the most attractive and almost certainly the oldest of roofing materials still in regular use in Britain. Here at The Blue Anchor Inn, Helston, one of the oldest original inns in Britain dating back to the 15th century; two young Cornishmen of South West Thatching who are relatively new to the craft, won the contract.

The great joy of thatch is that in the hands of a good craftsman it takes on a wonderful undulating, fluid quality and can achieve all sorts of effects that are impossible with other roofing materials. Combed wheat reed was sourced from Devon which has a much neater, trimmed look. It is seen widely in the south and west of England and is applied by dressing the reed and knocked into shape.

I was lucky enough to spend a few days shadowing Master Thatchers Jack Stiles & Toby Marr from South West Thatching and document every small detail of their transformation of Helston’s Blue Anchor Inn thatch, I even got to straddle the ridge of the Inn!