The Thatch Conundrum

Thatched buildings are a quaint reminder of our past with its associated heritage, cultural identity and sustainable credentials. Once a roofing material of convenience and economy, thatch has been superseded over the last century and faces threats from a number of different factors. This includes a lack of thatchers across the country, shortage of thatching material, limited government support and insurance worries creating a myriad of short and long-term issues. Not to be forgotten here are the owners of these buildings who have the challenge of trying to preserve the history and story of their buildings. Not all owners are able to rise to the challenge and navigate through the complexities of insurance, maintenance and organise thatchers who have busy schedules.

The Environment and Heritage Survey study ‘A Sense of Loss’, published in 1998, charts the dramatic loss of vernacular thatched buildings in Northern Ireland from circa 40,000 in the 1950s to 217 in 1993. Today there are 180 listed thatched buildings, including a number where the thatch is under tin. 21% of these listed buildings are on the Heritage at Risk Register! It should be acknowledged that listing and grant aid since the early 1970s did stem the decline in thatched buildings while the pressures mentioned above remain an issue.

In November 2022, I spoke to thatcher Ivor Kilpatrick on site at the Wilson Homestead off the Spout Road, south-east of Strabane. Ivor and his son James are re-thatching the vernacular building with rye straw having removed a layer of rotten straw from the surface. This is being pinned in place with hazel scallops. The thatch here had deteriorated considerably with deep pits, vegetation growth and intrusion of the thatch by rogue jackdaws. Its remote location and the fact it is a museum means it receives less maintenance compared to a conventional lived-in thatched house. In saying this, it is positive to see that in this example, the problem has been dealt with before lasting damage could occur.

Ivor grows forty acres of flax and rye in his native Donegal for his thatching projects around Ireland. This is enough to keep him going throughout the year but increasingly he is supplying other thatchers. This is something he enjoys but it has to be balanced between his own projects and not knowing what jobs he might receive in the future. This represents both an opportunity and also a challenge. Thatched buildings have regional differences in material, construction and floorplans. The thatch itself can come in different materials such as marram grass, flax, rye, oat straw and also reeds. Therefore, re-thatching is not just a simple case of thatching with any material that is available at hand.

The problem is heightened by the fact that few of these materials are grown locally and as a result a large quantity are imported from England and also Europe. Supply chain issues, inflation and the war in Ukraine has resulted in the price of water reed doubling in price in parts of England.1 Additionally, a number of older farmers grew small areas of suitable thatching material in the past but their numbers have dwindled in recent years. Flax, once the key product and export of Northern Ireland, is grown in pitifully small quantities, only three known farmers grow the plant on scale.

Is there an opportunity for further cooperation between the Historic Environment Division and DAERA to offer an incentive for farmers or owners of small-holdings to grow suitable thatching materials such as oats, barley, straw, flax and rye? Growing a wide variety of crops would ensure a steady supply of materials and reduce our reliance on importing material from abroad. It would also provide a ready stock of material to undertake emergency thatching which would pair well with the Historic Roof Repair Schemes.

Ongoing maintenance is key for the preservation of thatch buildings. If the thatch is not maintained it can become damp which promotes algae growth and accelerates subsequent deterioration. In the past the application of copper sulphate or bluestone to the thatch would help extend its lifespan. This is still used and is recommended by a number of thatchers across the country, but it seems that this is not as widely deployed as before.

Two thatched buildings surveyed in the summer of 2022 noted the collapse of the thatch roofing. Both listed buildings are now open to the elements and will make their way on to the heritage-at-risk register. Although thatch buildings are prioritised via the Historic Environment Roof Repair Scheme the maximum amount available of £12,000 is but a fraction of the cost to thatch a cottage. For smaller jobs and topping up the thatch this is helpful but persuading owners to foot the other half of a large bill (possibly more) is difficult to overcome. Added to this the ongoing maintenance needed to preserve the structure which again may put people off thatched buildings altogether.

The challenge of insurance has now resurfaced in the Republic of Ireland where a number of insurance providers have pulled out of the country.2 Additionally, the cost of insurance has increased and likely will increase more with less competition in the market. It should be noted that the issue is quite varied with other owners of thatched buildings having no difficulties with insurance. The problems mentioned above are known and acknowledged by the Historic Environment Division who carried out a survey of thatch buildings in 2022.3

For those thatch buildings most at risk and facing a total loss of the roof structure, there are interesting discussions as how to best retain the historic roof while also ensuring that the building does not fall out of use and into further disrepair. Carleton cottage near Augher has recently received preventative treatment through the Roof Repair Scheme as the thatch had fallen into poor condition. To preserve the building a protective tin covering was erected over the roof ensuring that the building is watertight while allowing for funds to be collected to preserve the building in the future. But one might ask: does encouragement of this only highlight the failure of our protection for these buildings? Additionally, how long will the tin stay on and are we, in fact, replicating history by creating new thatch under tins and worrying about the consequences later? The alternatives, however, are equally daunting: loss of character, tradition and history, which cannot be replaced easily, not to mention huge damage to the building fabric.

Thatch is a delicate subject requiring cooperation between government departments, owners, insurers and the heritage sector as a whole to find solutions to its continued use. The majority of thatched buildings are owned by private individuals where funding and the availability of grants is limited. Thatch is a proven draw for tourism and is some of our greenest building stock. Getting the current and next generation interested in heritage skills, such as thatching and even growing the materials is needed to re-engage ourselves with the skills and associated heritage. It was promising to see Ivor Kilpatrick’s son in the trade becoming a third-generation thatcher. 

Sebastian Graham

Heritage Projects Officer, Ulster Architectural Heritage

[1] Thatch price hike ‘could force homeowners to sell’ - BBC News

[2] Ireland’s thatched cottages disappearing amid insurance crisis (irishcentral.com)

[3] The Department carried out a condition survey in 2021/22 which is being prepared for publication. A detailed thematic survey based upon data compiled since 2000, is also being prepared for publication

The Heritage at Risk Register is managed by Ulster Architectural Heritage in partnership with the Department for Communities: Historic Environment Division. More information at www.ulster architecturalheritage.org.uk