Update on the Waxham Barn thatch roof re-ridging.

Panoramic view of Waxham Barn from the south.

Work has started on the reridging of the thatch roof at Waxham Barn to maintain and preserve this historic Grade 1 listed building.

The roof ridge is the section along the top of the roof, and this is now being replaced with new thatch, thus extending the life of the roof for another 30-40 years.

Master thatcher Michael Aldred has been working on the reridging since September.

Michael had to remove all the old thatching netting from the roof and remove all loose and rotten material from ridges until a firm and level base was established.

He then formed a new ridge in two layers of sedge, all secured to the reed below with hazel 'brotches'. Brotches are an organic way of fixing the sedge, a fixing that hasn’t changed for centuries.

Made of split and twisted, hazel or willow, this way of fixing has more names than any other thatching material or tool Brotches, Pric, Spear, Scollop, Scob, Sparrow, Spit, Sparrod, and Spelk are just some of the names, that describe this most useful item.

There are so many names, because this fixing is both ancient and widespread. Thatchers, in all areas where suitable wood grows, use them. Brotches is the name, used widely in the East of England, so is what Michael calls them.

Michael will then finish the ridge in a traditional pattern, comb and brush all the reed slopes, removing all moss and lichen. Tighten all areas of loose of reed casework and patch where needed with new reed.

The roof not only becomes part of the landscape, but a testament to this beautiful and ancient craft.

We're extremely grateful to The Pilgrim Trust, the Swire Charitable Trust and the Geoffrey Watling Charity for grants to contribute towards the cost of this work. The work to the roof will take place this autumn.

The Pilgrim Trust have mentioned us in a story on their website about their recent grants and you can read it  here https://www.thepilgrimtrust.org.uk/preservation-conservation-grants-june-2025/