Master Thatcher UK - Stephen Bowen

Recent Master Thatcher Work

A collection of pictures of my recent work. Thatched Houses from around the UK.

Thatching near Bicester

Thatching Complete New Cut Cap ( Block ) Ridge. November 09

Thatching in Berkshire Tadley

Complete New Long Straw Flush Ridge,New galzanised wire. Repairs in valley and below chimney in Long Straw. March 2010

Master Thatching in Marlow

Complete New Cut Cap ( Block ) Ridge. July/Aug 09

Gazibo in Arborfield 2010

The Finished Artical:-)

Thatching in West Chiltington

Garage re-thatched in water reed with a new ridge. Dec 09

Thatching in West Chiltington

Even got help from Santa if you look close enough:-)Dec 09

Thatching in West Chiltington

Front Extension + Garage Dec 09

Thatching in West Chiltington

New Ridge almost complete Dec 09

Thatching in West Chiltington

Stripped Garage, Re-Felt + Batten, New Water Reed being applied. Nov 09

Thatching in Berkshire East Garston 2010

Total Re-Thatch in East Garston,Berkshire 2010

Thatching in West Chiltington

Working under moon light:-). New extension being thatched in water reed supplied from South Molton, North Devon. 19th November 09

Thatching in Berkshire East Garston March 2010

Thatching in Combed Wheat Reed, Coat work almost complete on the hip end. New Flush Ridge with New Lead Flashing onto two chimneys. March 2010

Thatching near Bicester

Re-Thatched back in Combed Wheat Read, New Ridge. I would like to thank Richard Cross the butchers for allowing me access to the back of the property and can reccomend his lamb chops & bacon:-) Nov 09

Thatching near Bicester Nov 09

Re-Thatch back, Total Re-Ridge Nov 09

Thatching in West Chiltington

Strip old thatch for new extension. October 09

Master Thatching Nov 09

Thatched Summer House. Harehatch Berkshire November 09

Thatched Ridge Binfield Berkshire

Thatching in Berkshire.October 09

Thatching in Haddenham

Combed Wheat Reed with Flush style ridge, Haddenham, Bucks October 09

Master Thatching in Marlow

Complete New Ridge Jul/Aug 09

Master Thatching in Marlow

New Ridge, Re-Dress, Complete Wire and Fix Securely Jul/Aug 09

Thatching in West Chiltington

Thatching using water reed, New Extension + Garage. West Sussex 23 Nov 09

Thatching & Tiling in Goring 2010

New Extension, In Water Reed using the Dorset Model( thatch fire boards ).

Gazibo in Arborfield 2010

All the coat work on. Just the cutting and ridge to do.

Gazibo in Arborfield 2010

Thatching using wheat reed fixing with screw ties, and steel rod.

Gazibo in Arborfield 2010

Stripped off thatched matts, fixed ply boarding, thatch firewall felt.

Thatching in Berkshire

New Ridge and Lead Flashing round the chimney, repairs carried out in the valleys.

Thatching in Wiltshire Great Bedwyn

New Cut Cap ( BLOCK ) Ridge, removed moss growth, repair. Re-thatched the back using combed wheat.

Thatched Swing Chairs 2010

Second Thatched Swing Chair. Stunning veiws over the Chilterns.

Thatched Swing Chairs 2010

Thatched swing chairs.

Thatched Swing Chairs

Amazing veiws over the Chilterns. Re-Thatched two swing chairs.

Dorset Model with Lead Valley

This is a cross section of the system used in for fitting Thatch Fire Boarding also with a Lead Valley which will be hidden by the tiles on one side and thatch on the other side.

Thatching in Berkshire East Garston 2010

Sorry about the angle:-) Thatched using combed wheat reed. New Lead Flashing March 2010

Thatching & Tiling in Goring 2010

New Extension, Water Reed onto Tiles with a hidden lead valley. New Ridge on existing thatch.

Thatching in West Sussex

Water Reed, Cut Cap (block) Ridge. New Lead Flashing on chimney and under window.

Ajay enjoys his first day

Thatching in Berkshire Tadley

Complete New Long Straw Ridge

Thatching in Ludgershall, Buck

New Ridge in Ludgershall. Thank you to the owners for all the coffee:-)

Thatching in Lambourne

New Ridge, removed moss growth, light re-dress. All re-wired

Velux Window

New Extension using the Dorset Model. The material used is Water Reed with a new Velux Window. And pheasant:-)

Wheat Reed Suppied to my Yard

Delivery to yard, Supplied by J. Becklake South Molton, North Devon.2009

Thatching in Berkshire Tadley

Complete Re-Ridge and wire, repair to side of chimney using long straw removed moss growth, re-railed with hazel lattice work. March 2010

Master Thatcher

Master Thatching

Gazibo in Arborfield March 2010

This is the messy bit. Thatching in combed wheat reed, fixing using screw ties and galvanized steel rod. Arborfield March 2010

Gazebo Basingstoke 1

First Day on Site, Strip old Thatch Matt's and fixings off the Gazebo.

Chertsey, Surry June 09

Gazibo in Arborfield March 2010

Thatched gazibo using ply boarding, thatch firewall felt, thatched using combed wheat with a block (cut cap) ridge. March 2010. Did have far to travel:-)

Great Shefford Wiltshire

Gazebo Basingstoke 2

Fitting Double Ply Boarding with Arris Rail.

Chertsey, Surry June 09

Great Shefford Wiltshire

Gazebo Basingstoke 3

Ply Boarding Complete with joint's ceiled.

Chertsey, Surry June 09

Gazebo Basingstoke 4

Thatching using Combed Wheat Reed, fixing onto ply boarding using screw ties and steel rod.

Great Shefford Wiltshire June 09

Chertsey, Surry June 09

Great Shefford Wiltshire

Gazebo Basingstoke 5

Thatching the Gazebo complete, New Cut Cap (Block) Ridge with Hazel spar Lattice work, Totally Wired.

Great Shefford Wiltshire June 09

Thatchin in Bletchley Milton Keynes Feb 2010

Complete Re-Thatch, New Cut Cap Ridge. New Lead Flashing on all Chimney's Feb 2010

Thatching in Bletchley Milton Keynes Feb 2010

Winow's Cut out, Preparing the new ridge. Starting to take shape. Well done Toby. Feb 2010

Thatching in Bletchley Milton Keynes Feb 2010

Preparing the New Ridge with hazel spar lattice work. Almost ready for the pattern and to be cut out. Feb 2010

Chertsey, Surry 09

Thatching in Wiltshire

Preparing for a New Ridge. Shalbourne, Wiltshire UK

Master Thatcher

Thatching in East Grafton, Wiltshire

Flush Thatched Ridge

Thatching Roof & Thatched Porch,Wheat Reed East Grafton, Wiltshire

Master Thatching West Chiltington

First Day on site, Complete Re-Thatch in Water Reed 19 Feb 2009, West CHiltington, West Sussex

West Chiltington. West Sussex

Master Thatching West Sussex

Master Thatching West Chiltington

Second day on site, The owner looking up thinking ( lucky it's blue sky ). Stripping off old water reed, felt & batten. Replacing with Thatch Firewall ( give 1 hour fire protection). West Chiltington, West Sussex 20 Feb 2009

Thatching in West Sussex

Thatching using Water Reed, West Chiltington, West Sussex

Thatching in West Sussex

Thatch Firewall + Batten over window, Water Reed, West Chiltington, West Sussex

Thatching in West Sussex

Water Reed finished, Preparing Roof for the Ridge. Thatching in West Chiltington March 09

Thatching in West Sussex

Water Reed Thatching with Cut Cap ( Block ) Ridge. Thank you to the owners and Alan. Can you spot Jerry?

Master Thatching West Sussex

Water Reed, Block Ridge, Re-pointed Chimney, New Lead Flashing, Scaffolding Supplied, West Chiltington, West Sussex. March 09

First Ridge

Woolhampton, Berkshire

Flush Ridge

Master Thatcher, Berkshire,Wheat Reed

Wheat Reed

Flush Ridge, Lead Chimney, Brightwalton

Master Thatcher

Gazibo, New Thatching Work Arborfield, Berkshire

Thatching in Wiltshire

Wheat Reed Thatched House Great Bedwyn Wiltshire. May 2008

Thatching in Wiltshire

Thatched Porch, New Re-Ridge, Thatching in Great Bedwyn 2008

Scaffolding Supplied

Thatching in Wiltshire , Great Bedwyn 2008

Thatching in Wiltshire

Block Ridge on combed wheat reed, Great Bedwyn , Wiltshire 2008

Apprentice

This is my apprentice putting new wire on a thatched roof in Great Bedwyn , Wiltshire

Thatching in Wiltshire

Recent Master Thatching Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire 2008

Thatched Porch1

Thatch removed & batten off porch, Fire Retardent Felt ( Firewall ) 1 hour, batten

Update Master Thatching Dec 08

Update on the front. Haddenham. Buckinhamshire. UK Dec 08

Back ready for Ridging

A Flush Style Cap with Lead Flashing onto three Chimney to finish. Haddenham. Buckinghamshire Dec 08

Thatching in Haddenham 08

One more day to go 18th Dec 08, Just wire to go.

Haddenham Dec 08

Combed Wheat Reed, Flush Ridge, New Lead Flashing. Master Thatching in Haddenham, Buckinghamshire, UK Dec 08, back to complete the porch in the New Year

Thatched porch2

Re-Thatching using Combed Wheat Reed, Eave Bunches, oh yea working the snow

Thatching porch3

Back Fill under eave bunches to gain a better pitch + to stop combed wheat getting snagged under batten

Thatching porch4

Combed Wheat face work on, Ready for New Flush Ridge, Wire & to cut the eave

Thatching porch5

The Thatching Complete :-) In Haddenham, Thame 2009, Thank you to the owners

Thatching in Buckinghamshire

Front Total Re-Thatch in Combed Wheat Reed, Haddenham, Buckinghamshire. Dec 2008 . IT WILL BE COMPLETE BY CHRISTMAS:-)

Thatching in Buckinghamshire

Total Re-Thatch in Combed Wheat Reed, Haddenham, Buckinghamshire. UK Dec 2008

This shows how thick the thatch is

Combed Wheat Reed is normally laid to a thickness of 12inches to 16inches thick. Thatching near Thame Buckinghamshire

Master Thatcher

Thatching in Ham, Wiltshire

Master Thatcher

Wiltshire

Thatched Roof

Thatching in Combed Wheat Wiltshire

Wheat Reed Thatching

Lambourne, Berkshire

Thatching in Marlow

Remove old ridge, Remove moss growth, Complete New Cut Cap (Block) Ridge to the same pattern. July 09

Marlow July 09

Complete New Cut Cap (Block) Ridge.Plus Repairs

Marlow July 09

Removed old wire netting, Starting to remove old ridge. Scaffolded all round

Marlow August 09

Preparing the Ridge for the turn over and new hazel spar railing.

Marlow July 09

Removed Moss Growth, Preparing for New Ridge.

Marlow August 09

New Cut Cap (Block) Ridge, Hazel Spar Lattice Work. Moss Growth Removed. Ready for Re-wire( galvanised.

New Ridge

Long Straw, Finchampstead, Berkshire

New Thatched Ridge

Removed moss growth, Re-Dress Thatched Roof, Henley, Berkshire

Me Thatching

Thatching in Combed wheat reed

Swimming Pool Before

Strip Old Thatch, Leckhampstead

Swimming Pool After

Wheat Reed, Cut Cap (Block) Style Ridge

Master Thatcher

Thatched Out House Thatching in Leckhampstead, Berkshire. 2007

Re-Wire Thatched Roof

Remove Moss Growth from Water Reed Thatched House, Complete Re-Wire Reading,Berkshire. UK

Remove Moss Growth

Thatching in Sonning Common, Berkshire, UK Sept 2008. Remove moss, Total Wire, Repair in Valley's, New Lead on Porch.

Ridge Under Window

Woolhampton, Berkshire, Thatching under window

Thatched Roof

Master Thatcher

Master Thatching

Snowed Off

Even i took time off, well took a day making a snowman with my son:-). Feb 2009

Master Thatcher

Tadley, Berkshire Thankyou to the owners

Snow Cottage

Christmas Card sent to me by the owner's, Thank you. Master Thatching Tadley, Berkshire

Master Thatcher

Wheat Reed Thatching in Berkshire

Combed Wheat Reed

Cut Cap (Block) Style Ridge Tadley Berkshire

Thatching onto Tiles

Wheat Reed Thatching Tadley, Berkshire

New Ridge

Berkshire, Master Thatcher

New Extension

Wheat Reed Thatching Ham , Wiltshire

Thatching Extension

Ham ,Wiltshire , Thatching using Wheat Reed

Thatching using Water Reed

Marlow, Master Thatching

First Day on Site 17/10/08

Re-Thatch Back & Wings using combed wheat reed, New Ridge. Shalbourne, Wiltshire. UK

Thatching in Wiltshire

Combed Wheat Reed

Thatching Combed Wheat Reed

Complete Re-Thatching the back and both Wings in Combed Wheat Reed with ( Block ) Cut Cap Ridge. Shalbourne, Wiltshire. UK 14 November 2008

Join New Thatch to Old

New Thatch join to existing thatched roof. Shalbourne, Wiltshire. UK. Nov 2008

Red Sky at Night

Working till the sun goes down. Shalbourne, Wiltshire UK

Combed Wheat in Shalbourne

Back of Shalbourne, Wiltshire, UK. Nov 2008

Master Thatching

Stripped away old thatch for new extension then re-thatched onto tiles. Near Theale, Berkshire Feb 2009

Sussex Windows

Cut Cap (Block) Style,Thatching Upper Buckleberry, Berkshire

Thatched Roof

Berkshire,Thatched Roof in Wheat Reed

Thatched Roof

Master Thatchers

Thatched Roof

Wheat Reed

Thatching in Wheat Reed, Alton

Cutting the Eaves

Combed Wheat Reed, Alton

Cutting the eaves

Combed Wheat Reed Thatching Alton Hampshire UK

Thatching in Ludgershall, Bucks

Back of thatched house ready to be wired and a cement fillet added one more day to go. April 2010 Thatching in Buckinghamshire

Thatched Roof

Before Thatching, Watlington

Master Thatching

Wheat Reed, Watlington, Oxford

Thatch Firewall

Old Thatch taken off, Thatch Firewall ( gives 1 Hour Fire Protection), Lead Soaker's onto tiles in valley , Arris Rail, Batten.

Thatching in Ludgershall, Buck

New Cut Cap ( Block ) Ridge, Removed moss growth, Light Re-dress. Only the wiring to go and new cement fillet to finish. April 2010. Lugershall, Bucks.