Thatching the Staithe Stores

Today the building, on the Horsey Windpump site, is home to the National Trust’s café, but for decades Staithe Stores was a community-owned store that sold local produce to visiting holidaymakers moored on the staithe.

Established by Major Buxton in 1934, the building operated as a community store until 1997, when it was leased to the National Trust for its current use.

The main part of a thatched roof can last for 50 to 80 years, depending on the workmanship, the quality of the reeds, and the weather. The ridge on top, which secures the joint and prevents water ingress, needs replacing more often.

The National Trust is working with Daniel Rebbeck, an East Anglia Master Thatcher, to rethatch this cherished building.

Use of local reeds

Daniel is using reeds that were grown on the Horsey Estate for the project. The reeds are first dried out before they are layered on to the roof as part of the new thatch. Flexing some reed stems in his hands, Daniel says:

“Horsey reed is very good and that is a reflection of the quality of the water in the area. If there are too many nitrates in the water, which has been a problem on the Broads in the past, then the reeds are more brittle and that doesn’t make for good thatch.”

The use of local reed adds to the environmentally friendly credentials of thatching. The key raw materials – reeds for the base (called fleaking) and main coat of thatch, sedge for the ridge, and strips of hazel to help hold the thatch in place – are all natural, renewable, and low in carbon to produce.

Continuing an age-old craft

Thatched roofs are renowned for their insulating properties, keeping buildings warm in winter and cool in summer, as well as providing very effective waterproofing.

The age-old craft of thatching requires plenty of patience as well as skill. The reed must be kept dry during the process, so thatching work in the autumn and winter involves a lot of covering and uncovering of the roof.

The craftsmanship of Daniel’s work can be seen a short distance away, at Horsey Barns, close to the Nelson’s Head, where he recently thatched the roofs of the National Trust’s three holiday cottages.

“There’s a lot of job satisfaction as a thatcher,” continues Daniel, “especially when you return to a property years later and you see that the thatch is still in a good condition.”

A period of renewal at Horsey

Peter Nicholson, General Manager for the National Trust’s Norfolk Coast & Broads properties, comments:

“The weather hasn’t been particularly helpful for thatching lately, but it’s been a real pleasure to see the new thatched roof taking shape. It’s really important that we continue to use traditional crafts like this at our properties, both in terms of keeping the heritage of the area alive and from a sustainability perspective.

“We’ve had a significant period of renewal at Horsey Windpump, with the new electric pumping station taking shape, the thatching of the café, and other improvements to our visitor facilities. The site will look fantastic for our visitors once this is all complete and we’re looking forward to an exciting year ahead.”