Traditions and Harvest Methods

This page is about some of the special projects we are involved with which focus on the history and traditions of thatching.

We grow our own straw at the Weald and Downland Museum which features many historic houses and agricultural buildings dating from the 13th century to victorian times, and have run a series of open days and work shops demonstrating the various methods of harvesting straw and traditional thatching practices. Click on the screens below to open one of our movies or slideshows.

Slideshow of weald and downland visit

Slideshow of weald and downland visit by HRH Prince Charles: from harvesting the corn, to thatching.

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Slideshow of a timber barn

Slideshow of an old timber barn: from rebuilding the old roof, to creating the new thatch.

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Movie of corn threshing

Movie showing corn being fed into a threshing machine to produce long straw.

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Movie of corn cutting

Movie showing a machine cutting the corn and binding it into sheaves.

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Chris Tomkins Master Thatcher – For all your thatching needs, please contact me.

Telephone: 01243 863943
Mobile: 07967 587368
Email: tomkinsthatcher@aol.com