Devon is well known for its thatched roofs and, although there are thatched roofs in other parts of England and other countries, Devon has retained the most historic thatch worldwide consisting of around 4,000 examples.
The oldest preserved thatch in Devon is pre-1550 and still has blackened thatch from a time before chimneys were in use. At least 180 examples of these are still in existance and are specifically interesting for studying historical thatching techniques.
I came across these thatchers in Seaton on my birthday some 13 years ago and because it's not common to see them I took the opportunity to take photos.
A good thatch cared for with regular repairing of the ridge and patching up elsewhere on the roof can last anything from 30 to 60 years, although the ridge and patching can be between 3 to 6 years. These thatchers were rethatching the ridge at this point. Traditionally a plain thatch is used in Devon, which fits in well with the style of buildings.
The local tradition of Combed Straw thatching (also known as Wheat Reed and Devon Reed) is thought to be unique to the South West, going back at least 600 years and using straw from local wheat. Most thatched buildings are Listed Buildings due to their historical and architectural importance.
Although today the majority of remaining thatched buildings are domestic, there were once many farm buildings with thatched roofs too, the patching required done by skilled farm workers. The above photo was taken at Pump Farm where the farmhouse meets the farm building; the thatching would have once covered the farm building too but is now a corrugated tin roof.
There are also some odd exceptions, such as a cricket score board in Sidmouth with a tiny thatched roof, a bakery, blacksmith and the lookout shelter at Seaton, overlooking the sea from the cliff.
In the above photo you can just about see some of the fine wire netting covering the edge. This is sometimes done to prevent damage from birds and very inclement weather.
I don't have a photo of the cricket score board but I do have one of this amazing thatched entrance to the Otter Garden Centre in Ottery St Mary.
One of the most unusual is the village blacksmith in Branscombe, still functioning today.
Opposite are Forge Cottages, with thatching that seems to hug the roof like a big cuddly blanket.
The advantages of thatched roofs is that they are good protection from the weather and are also energy efficient being warm in winter and cool in summer. Many of Devon's old buildings were built with cob, a mixture of clay, straw, sand and water, the walls built up on stone foundations, some of which still survive. This was particularly prevalent in the south-west due to the sandy clay and plenty of wet weather. Thatching materials were also readily attainable and today is still specifically grown in Devon using a tall variety of wheat.
Also in Branscombe is the Old Bakery, which is now a tearoom and still contains the original bakery equipment as museum pieces. The building materials here are the local stone rubble together also with some cob. One side has a lovely cat slide roof with the thatch like a blanket thrown over it.
And the Sea Shanty, a fabulous tearoom and restaurant on the beach.
The overhangs above the windows are squared off, rather than eyebrows, which we'll see on Shepherds Cottage later on.
Constructed with stone rubble and brick quoins, the top floor end of the building is weatherboarded with a cute little thatched hood above the upstairs window. More of those square overhangs seen below.
And in Branscombe Hole, further inland, are these lovely traditional cottages.
The village of Beer next, where this charming Captains Cottage has a delightful porch hood matching the thatched roof.
Also in Beer, Shepherds Cottage consisting of two front doors indicating the former two cottages that have since been made into one dwelling. Both porche hoods have the nowey shape know as an eyebrow. Usually to be seen above small windows on the first floor but in this case over the doors.
The traditional Harbour Inn in the village of Axmouth, also has a lovely sweeping thatch on the porch as well as the main roof.
There are also thatched buildings along Clifton Place in Sidmouth, three of which can be seen in the photos below.
Also in Sidmouth is the delightful May Cottage, another traditional thatched house, seen below. By the way, I'm not adding much in the way of information to these buildings as all - or nearly all - each have their own articles on the blog and can be read in more detail there. The odd one that hasn't yet will be written up at a later date.
To Honiton next for another house, of which I know absolutely nothing yet, but which can also be seen in the article Honiton Buildings.
The Southern Cross in the village of Newton Poppleford also has thatch...
...then back to Seaton where there's the charming Tudor Cottage with its striking exterior chimney stack...
...and the erstwhile farmhouse of Harepath Farm.
I didn't realise how many there are locally in East Devon until I started checking through my photos, probably because I see them often that I'm already used to them. These are by no means the only ones but just those I've happened to photograph and many that I haven't even seen yet.
And finally, we'll finish where we started with the thatching in Seaton, where I'll talk a bit more about the building itself. A range of three attached cottages, the building is a Grade II Listed building circa 18th century, consisting of two private residences and a Victorian shop front.
I need to take more photos of the building itself, especially the left side residences, when I'll write a separate article with more information.
I also have these three black & white photos which I took some 30 odd years before. The shop fronted side is on the first two.
The left side cottages below on the centre right of the photo, taken from Beer Road opposite.
And that's about it! However, to add along with the Devon thatch is the totally charming Umbrella Cottage just over the border in Lyme Regis, Dorset. Interestingly, it used to be part of Devon and the countryside is also very Devon like - the rest of Dorset having a fairly different landscape and atmosphere.
I hope that was of some interest and I'll take more photos of the building being thatched in Seaton for an article. Mind, I still haven't set my new scanner up yet. It's a case of sorting out some room in a walk-in store cupboard, which necessitates sorting stuff in the spare bedroom to make room for stuff from the cupboard so that I can put some bedroom stuff into the cupboard so that I can bring in the scanner from the bedroom. Yes, I know, it is complicated, lol. It's getting there but taking time to do.
Anyway, I'm not sure what's up next - it's been like that for most of this year - but I have a couple almost ready and it'll be either Otter Garden Centre or Marine Parade in Lyme Regis. Or even something different! ;)
So, cheers for now. :)
