Thatch: Thatching in England 1790-1940

The first of two volumes of English Heritage Research Transactions devoted solely to the study of thatch. This volume examines the history of thatching between 1790 and 1940, and is a detailed study of past techniques and materials, drawing on archaeological and survey documentation as well as written sources. The study has revealed a much more complex picture than had previously been recognised. It has brought to light a great deal of new knowledge about the survival of historic thatch, showing that despite thatch being a much replaced material, it survives in substantial quantities on roofs from the medieval period onwards. The work is of great interest to thatchers and all those involved in architectural conservation, especially those with responsibility for the maintenance and protection of thatched buildings.