Master Thatcher UK - Stephen Bowen

Recent Master Thatcher Work

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

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 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 Ludgershall, Buck

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

Ajay enjoys his first day

Thatching in Lambourne

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

Thatching in West Sussex

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

Thatching in Berkshire East Garston 2010

Total Re-Thatch in East Garston,Berkshire 2010

Thatching in West Chiltington

Front Extension + Garage Dec 09

Thatching in Wiltshire Great Bedwyn

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

Thatching in West Chiltington

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

Thatching in Berkshire East Garston 2010

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

Thatching near Bicester

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

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

Master Thatching in Marlow

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

Thatching in Gloucester 2012

Thatching in Haddenham

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

Master Thatching in Marlow

Complete New Ridge Jul/Aug 09

Thatching in Berkshire

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

Master Thatching Nov 09

Thatched Summer House. Harehatch Berkshire November 09

Thatching in Cirencester August 2010

Complete Flush Ridge with ornate hazel spar lattice work.

Thatching in West Chiltington

Strip old thatch for new extension. October 09

Thatching near Bicester Nov 09

Re-Thatch back, Total Re-Ridge Nov 09

Thatching in Berkshire near Henley

Flush Ridge, New Cement Fillet on both chimneys. New Lead Flashing under one window. Re-Thatch valley using Devon wheat reed. Noovember 2010

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 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

Master Thatching in Marlow

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

Thatched Ridge Binfield Berkshire

Thatching in Berkshire.October 09

Thatching in Berkshire near Henley

Complete Flush Re-Ridge, Remove moss growth, Complete re-wire. November 2010

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

Wheat Reed Suppied to my Yard

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

Chertsey, Surrey June 09

Gazebo Basingstoke 1

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

Great Shefford Wiltshire

Chertsey, Surrey June 09

Gazebo Basingstoke 2

Fitting Double Ply Boarding with Arris Rail.

Great Shefford Wiltshire

Gazebo Basingstoke 3

Ply Boarding Complete with joint's ceiled.

Chertsey, Surrey 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

Gazebo Basingstoke 5

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

Great Shefford Wiltshire

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

Buckinghamshire Drayton Parslow Feb 2011

Complete Re-Ridge, remove moss growth, re-dress exist thatch, re-wire, Cement fillet both chimneys. Feb 2011

Chertsey, Surrey 09

Velux Window

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

Thatching in West Sussex

Complete New Cut Cap ( block ) Ridge, re-dress existing water reed, New Lead apron under chimney. Climping, West Sussex October 2010

Thatching in West Sussex

Complete new ridge with ornate pattern. Removed moss growth and minor repairs to water reed.

Climping Littlehampton 2011

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 & Tiling in Goring 2010

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

Thatching & Tiling in Goring 2010

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

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 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

Thatching in Haddenham Bucks 2011

Thatching Haddenham Bucks 2011

Finished Haddenham Bucks thatched roof

Thatching in Haddenham Buck 2011

Thatching Haddenham Bucks 2011

Thatching in Haddenham Bucks 2011

Master Thatcher

Thatching in Ham, Wiltshire

Thatching in Hampshire Chilbolton 2011

Before work begins. Strip one layer of old thatch. Re-Slate roof properly adding insulation, water proof felt and treated batten, air vents and a lead soaker onto the eave of the thatched roof.

Thatching in Hampshire Chilbolton 2011

Thatching now complete. New Lead flashing on chimney. New slate roof on rear of property. Complete re-thatch with a cut cap block ridge. Hampshire Chilbolton Feb 2011

Thatching in Hampshire Chilbolton 2011

Complete Re-Thatch in Devon combed wheat reed. Hampshire 2011

Thatching in Hampshire Chilbolton

Cutting New Ridge, Chilbolton Hampshire Feb 2011

Thatching in Hampshire 2011

Cutting the bottom eave by hand using a pair of shears. Hampshire Chilbolton Jan 2011

Thatching in Hampshire 2011

Cutting the eave by hand with a pair of shears.

Thatching in Hampshire 2011

Completely re-slated extension, Old thatch stripped away new combed wheat reed from Devon. Hampshire Jan 2011

Thatching in Hampshire Chilbolton 2011

Picture of Thatched Roof before stripping the old wire off and removing one layer of old thatch, Preparing roof.Hampshire 2011

Thatched Swing Chairs 2010

Second Thatched Swing Chair. Stunning veiws over the Chilterns.

Thatched Swing Chairs

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

Thatched Swing Chairs 2010

Thatched swing chairs.

Master Thatcher

Wiltshire

Thatched Roof

Thatching in Combed Wheat Wiltshire

Ickford Buckingham March 2011

Windows have been cut. Ridging now underway.

Ickford Buckingham March 2011

All complete

Ickford Buckingham March 2011

Thatching now underway.

Ickford Buckingham March 2011

All the eaves completely stripped offand thatching now underway.

Ickford Buckingham March 2011

Stripping eave and brow to increase daylight into the house.

Ickford Buckinghm March 2011

Before the scaffold is erected.

Ickford Buckingham March 2011

Thatching almost complete then the ridgingcan start.

Ickford Buckingham March 2011

Cut Cap ( block ) Ridge now cut out. Starting to wire the property.

Thatching in Ickford Buckingham

Ickford Buckingham March 2011

Ridiculous amount of thatch overhang.

Ickford Buckingham March 2011

Thatching now complete. New chimney pots and lead flashing.

Wheat Reed Thatching

Lambourne, Berkshire

Long Straw Tadley

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

Lyminster West Sussex

Thatching in combed wheat reed underway.

Thatching in West Sussex Lyminster March 2011

First day complete re-thatch. West Sussex Lyminster 28 Feb 2011

Lyminster West Sussex

Thatching underway.

Lyminster West Sussex

New Ash rafter poles supplied by Balcombe Estate thank you very much to Jamie and Ron for providing an excellent service.

Thatching in West Sussex Lminster March 2011

Hip end now stripped off to expose the rafters, putting in new rafters before re-thatching.

Thatching in West Sussex Lyminster March 2011

Back of the property. I think it needs re-thatching:-)Complete strip re-felt using thatch firewall felt + batten

Thatching in West Sussex Lyminster March 2011

This is the messy side of thatching (reality) Stripping old thatch off the roof. Thatched Roof in Lyminster West Sussex March 2011

Thatching in West Sussex Lyminster March 2011

My thatcher really wont thank me for this picture but could not resist:-)

Thatching in West Sussex Lyminster March 2011

Stripping off the old layers of thatch from the roof just over half way there.

Lyminster West Sussex

This is what i found after we stripped the roof.

Thatching in West Sussex Lyminster March 2011

Stripping the hip end where the water had been penerating through the thatch into the house.

Thatching Lyminster West Sussex

New Ash Rafter Poles

Thatching in Lyminister West Sussex

Thatch Firewall Felt being appied on top of the rafters.

Lyminster West Sussex

Thatching upto the side wall and filling in the void with back fill.

Lyminster West Sussex

Thatching now underway at last:-)

Thatching in West Sussex Lyminster March 2011

Stripping off the old thatch. The Hip rafter totally missing.

Thatching in West Sussex Lyminster March 2011

You can see right through. The water has gone straight down through 8-10 layers of thatch.

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

Thatching in Ramsbury

Complete re-thatch using Devon Combed Wheat Reed. New Lead Flashing on chimneys. Cut Cap ( Block ) Ridge. completed 7th October 2010

Thatching in Ramsbury 0ct 2010

Complete re-thatch using Devon Wheat Reed with a Cut Cap ( block ) Ridge. New Lead Flashing on all 3 chimneys. Ramsbury Wiltshire October 2010

Gazebo in Arborfield 2010

The Finished Artical:-)

Gazebo 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 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:-)

Gazebo in Arborfield 2010

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

Gazebo in Arborfield 2010

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

Gazebo in Arborfield 2010

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

Re-Wire Thatched Roof

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

Reading Berkshire 2011

New lead flashing onto chimney to finish

Reading Berkshire 2011

Complete

Reading Berkshire 2011

Preparing the the new cut cap ( block ) ridge.

Reading Berkshire 2011

Front course work now complete. Start the ridging process.

Thatching in Reading Berkshire April 2011

Reading Berkshire 2011

First day on site

Reading Berkshire 2011

Thatching now complete

Reading Berkshire 2011

Thatching now underway, old eave and brow course stripped and replaced with new.

Reading Berkshire 2011

Thatching in combed wheat reed.

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

Royal Wedding 2011

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

New Ridge 2011

Complete re-ridge with hazel spar lattice work. Moss growth removed and totally re-dressed. Buckinghamshire Stoke Poges 2011

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

Thatching in Berkshire Pangbourne

Water Reed,

Thatching in Berkshire Reading 2011

zzzzz

Thatching in Berkshire Reading 2011

petes description

Thatching in Berkshire Reading 2011

Thatched Roof

Master Thatchers

Thatching in Buckinghamshire Burnham 2011

Thatching in Finchampstead Berkshire 2012

Thatching in Gloucester 2012

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.

Long Straw Reading 2011

Long Straw Thatching in Reading 2011

Long Straw Reading 2011

Thatching in Stoke Poges 2012

Thatching in Surrey 2011

Thatching in West Sussex 2011

Complete New Ridge, removed moss growth and major repairs to the existing water reed. Climping, West Sussex. February 2011

Thatching in West Sussex 2011

Thatching in West Sussex Lyminster March 2011

Old thatch stripped down to the rafters 5ft thick. How the existing rafters took all this weight is amazing. Lyminster West Sussex Feb 2011

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.

Thatching New Build West Chiltington 2011

Long Straw Repair

Three Thatching Long Straw Repairs, Berkshire

Repair Valley

New to Old Thatch, Ham

Thatching in Surrey May 2011

How blue is the sky

This is what Combed Wheat Reed looks like before i have cut the eaves, Burbage, Wiltshire 5 Jan 2009

Frosty Morning

Thatching in Combed Wheat Burbage, Wiltshire Dec 29 2008

Thatching in Burbage

Cut Cap( Block Ridge )Combed Wheat Reed, Phase 1 complete. Burbage, Wiltshire, UK 0ctober 2008

Velux Window

This really was Master Thatching, Near Theale , Berkshire Feb 2009

New Thatched Ridge

After the flood Wargrave, Berkshire

Thatched Extension

Water Reed, Berkshire

Master Thatcher

Thatching in Water Reed, New Ridge, Berkshire

Master Thatcher

Master Thatching

Master Thatcher

Working through the floods, Wargrave, Berkshire

Thatched Roof Buckinghamshire Nov 2010

Re-thatch front using Devon Combed Wheat Reed. New cement fillets on both chimneys

Thatching in Buckinghamshire near Wendover

Re-Thatch front using Devon combed wheat reed. Re-Thatched porch. Strip off old thatchers work on the right hand side and re-thatch properly. November 2010