From reed bed to roof: The people behind Norfolk thatch through the years

Mr A. Carman of Thorpe, a thatcher with A.E Farman and Son of Salhouse, working on the second of two pairs of council built cottages at the green in Kimberley. Date: February 15, 1962 - Credit: Archant Library

65-year-old marshman Mr Jack Wisken (in the boat) with his friend Mr Edwin Shingles harvests reeds on Colman’s marshes at Woodbastwick. The reeds were destined for thatching on Col. H Cator’s estate. Date: January 1949. - Credit: Archant Library

Father and son Kenny and Ray Firman of Honing carry on the family tradition of making “brotches” for the thatching trade. They are splitting hazel wood (known as “nuttery”) which is used for ridging the thatched roofs. The shed they are working in had been in use for this and other wood crafts for over 100 years. Date: November 1980 - Credit: Archant Library

Master Thatcher Alan Wotherspoon thatching Filby Village Club. Date: June 24, 1998 - Credit: Archant Library

A fully mechanised reed cutting was being demonstrated at Ranworth to a party of thatchers from all over the country. Mr Francis Cator’s 150-acre reedbeds produced annually some 25,000 bundles for thatching. Date: 1971. - Credit: Archant Library

Reed being bundled up for export to America where it would be used for house thatching. The workmen were employed by Mr WR Farman, reed thatcher of North Walsham. Mr. D Cushion on the left of the picture was one of two thatchers travelling to America to do the thatching. Date: 1955. - Credit: Archant Library

Harvesting in the traditional way at Injun Farm, Aslacton, where wheat has been cut with a binder and is being "shocked" before being taken away and stacked to await "troshin" (threshing) next spring. The unbroken straw will then be used for thatching South Norfolk cottage roofs, Harry Mower (65) works at the farm and here he helps to shock the shoaves (or sheaves) of wheat to dry in the field. Date: August 3, 1981. - Credit: Archant Library

Waxham: Pictured taking a break from his thatching demonstration at Waxham Barn is thatcher Jonathan Cousins. Date: October 17, 1998 - Credit: Archant Library

Mr B Pegnall a Saxlingham thatcher working on the roof of the old school at Saxlingham Nethergate. Dated: April 22, 1953. - Credit: Archant Library

Bundles of reeds which will be used in America for thatching the Maine house of Miss Pamela Woolworth being tied up by employees of Mr W R Farman of North Walsham. Mr. D Cushion (left) is going to America. Date: August 9, 1955. - Credit: Archant Library

A thatcher perches on the ridge of a thatched cottage in Norfolk in the 1950s-1960s. - Credit: Archant Library

Large barn thatching job underway near Reepham at Grove Farm Barn, Booton. It is one of the last big barns to be fully thatched. On the left is Marcus Thompson and right is Alex Kelly at work. Date: July 23, 2008 - Credit: Archant Library

Another 1000 bundles of Norfolk reed for thatching houses in Suffolk, being loaded by the Norfolk Naturlist Trust at Hickling. Date: Februrary 10, 1989. - Credit: Archant Library

Two Norfolk thatchers at work in the 1950s. - Credit: Archant Library

A thatcher works on the ridge of a thatched property in Norfolk. Date: May 1950 - Credit: Archant Library

Stacking of the reed used in thatching. Date: February 1960 - Credit: Archant Library

Using iron reed hooks to hold a sway in position, Norwich. - Credit: Archant Library