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Tools used in roof thatching, West Country, UK
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Tools used in roof thatching, West Country, UK
Tools used in roof thatching in the West Country, UK. Date: circa 1960s
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 23361896
© Mary Evans Picture Library/ANDREW BESLEY
Blade Blades Cutting Handle Handles Roof Roofing Skill Skills Straw Thatch Thatcher Thatching Tool Tools
EDITORS COMMENTS
In this evocative photograph, we witness the time-honored craft of thatching in the West Country of England during the 1960s. The scene unfolds before us as a thatcher, dressed in traditional attire, meticulously works on a quintessential English roof, its wooden beams and straw thatch a testament to the region's rich architectural heritage. The thatcher's hands, calloused from years of experience, deftly maneuver the various tools spread out around him. The tools, a symphony of wooden handles and sharp blades, are essential to the intricate process of roof thatching. The long-handled rake, with its curved teeth, is used to evenly distribute the straw, while the adze, with its sharp blade, shapes and smooths the thatch. The billhook, with its curved blade, cuts the straw to size, and the mallet, with its flat head, secures the thatch to the roof's framework. The thatcher's skill and dedication to his trade are evident in the precision and care he brings to each stroke. The tools, each with a unique purpose, are an extension of his hands, allowing him to create a watertight, insulating, and beautiful roof that has stood the test of time. The West Country's thatching tradition, passed down through generations, continues to thrive, thanks to the unwavering commitment of skilled craftsmen like this thatcher and the essential tools they wield. This photograph offers a rare glimpse into a bygone era, a time when traditional skills and craftsmanship were the cornerstone of the building trade.
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