Media & Links
A day in the life of a 4th generation roof thatcher
The studios of artisans and craftspeople are often tucked away in hard-to-find places, so it is not unusual to arrive at an interview harassed and red-faced, having been barked at by the satnav with tiresome regularity.
Thatching: end of the job is the final straw
Old England was, to innumberable designers of old toffee tins, a land of thatched houses. They had a point – the origin of “to thatch” is “theccan” meaning “to cover”, an Old English verb for an old English pursuit.
Everything old is new again: Thatched roofs
When it comes to housing design, it’s hard to get more retro than this: a thatched roof, made from compacted straw.
Chris Dodson, a fourth-generation thatcher, wielded his mallet, explaining, “It compacts the straw even more.”
Renewing Thatched Roof to Old Boars Head, Chatteris.
Chris Dodson is renewing the Thatch roof to a building on the corner of Station Street and Railway Lane. The building previously known as the Boars Head, is now a private residence.
Cottage formerly the Boar’s Head
The cottage on corner of Railway Lane and Station Street in Chatteris in the process of being re thatched.
Night of terror as arsonists torch five thatched cottages
The men roared through two villages at night in a red hatchback setting fire to powder-dry thatch.
One villager watched in horror as one firebug held a lighter to the roof of a neighbour’s house until the flames took hold.
Thatched cottages: Treasured feature of villages under threat
They are the architectural epitome of Englishness.
But the thatched cottage, a treasured feature of chocolate-box villages, is under threat, conservationists have warned.
Is thatching having a comeback in the UK?
“It’s such a romantic idea,” says author Amber Guinness, “but the reality is a bit of a nightmare.” This unceremonious fall from idyllic, rural fantasy to logistical agony is not an uncommon tale in the world of thatched roofing.
Last straw: thatched cottages are under threat
War, rain and old equipment are endangering an ancient craft and pushing up prices for cottage owners. Are the days of England’s 60,000 thatched homes numbered?
The Cambs thatcher whose family has been preserving homes since the end of World War One
Dotted about the English countryside are thatched houses, with their thick straw roofs adding chocolate-box appeal to many villages and towns. For those of us who have always lived in homes with tiled roofs, they raise endless questions.
Rural craft
In the 21st century, many old skills are no longer needed; we celebrate those that remain part of our rich rural culture
Sawtry thatcher is scaling new heights after winning Dragons’ Den star’s backing
The boss of a thatching business is reaching new heights after being championed by one of TV’s Dragons’ Den stars.
Chris Dodson, who runs Chris Dodson Thatching Services, in Newton Road, Sawtry, was selected by retail entrepreneur Theo Paphitis for national recognition.
Thatched roofs under threat due to straw shortage
A thatcher with a three-year waiting list for his services said a shortage of straw had caused problems for his industry.
Supporting Local Thatcher Chris Dodson
Great to sit down with Chris Dodson Thatching Services this week and talk to him to better understand the challenges facing the thatching industry.
A century of thatching under one roof
Matt Limb OBE looks at the work of thatchers in modern day England, and a family that has practised the trade for the past century, with some surprises along the way.
Thatchers and farmers tackling straw supply issues
Poor harvests over the past few years due to changing weather patterns have impacted the craft, causing some within the heritage trade to leave altogether.
Securing the Future of Thatching
A Suffolk summit united thatchers, farmers, and plant scientists to tackle shortages of essential thatching materials like wheat straw and hazel spars. By leveraging modern agronomy to encourage local production, they hope to preserve this traditional craft for future generations.
Sustaining Suffolk’s Thatching Heritage
Master Thatcher Chris Dodson discusses the challenges of sourcing local wheat straw and the environmental costs of importing materials. Despite high input costs, consistent demand offers farmers a reliable market, helping secure the future of this historic craft and its next generation of thatchers.
A Short Video About Us
@dodsonthatchers Recently we had our local MP, Ben Obese-Jecty, visit us as a follow up to a meeting I had with him in December 2024. Ben has been a great supporter of us and thatching. We will always fight for thatched home owners. #thatch #thatching #masterthatchers #ruralcrafts #dodsonthatching ♬ Air strike - Gati Barreto
