Inventarnummer
94/67/1-3
Hersteller
Beschreibung
Three black plastic U-shaped thatching spars, with notched arms of unequal length. Spars are used to secure liggers (lengths of split wood used to hole the upper surface of the thatch in place) on the ridges of thatched roofs. The plastic spar was developed circa 1990 by John Fletcher, a thatcher from Christchurch, Dorset; however, they are not very popular with thatchers as they do not grip as well as the traditional hazel spar. These plastic spars are part of a collection of thatching tools donated by Jeff King, a thatcher and former thatching advisor at CoSIRA.
Physische Beschaffenheit
3 thatching spars: plastic; good condition
Bestandsgeschichte
MERL miscellaneous note – ‘Collection of thatching tools given by Mr Geoff [Jeff] King, … , Evesham, Worcs, … , in February 1994. // Geoff King: // Took advantage of gov’t rehabilitation scheme on leaving the navy in 1957 to learn thatching. He was taught by George Wright, a thatcher of Nurseling, Southampton. After three years, he set up business on his own account on the outskirts of Southampton. // In 1970 he became Thatching Adviser for COSIRA [Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas]. This involved much travel, giving advice to other thatchers, house owners, public authorities etc. The job also involved being one of the tutors on the thatching course run at Knuston Hall adult education centre, near Wellingborough, Northants. These are two week courses for apprentice thatchers and they have to attend three a year. The courses are put on by the Rural Development Commission, successor body to COSIRA. // Geoff King retired in the summer of 1993, but reorganisation with the Rural Development Commission resulted in a delay in the appointment of his successor so he stayed on a little longer. // The tools that Mr King has given to the Museum have been collected in the course of his work around the country over the last twenty years and were accessories in his teaching. // See The Thatcher’s Craft, Rural Industries Bureau, 1960. Library ref. 5790. Chapter 7, Thatching Tools and Materials, P.205.’, MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'Recorder: RB/JMB // Date: Sept. 1994 // Description: Three spars made of plastic (black). They are U-shaped with unequal arms and pointed tips. There are notches on the arms. // Dimensions: Length of arms: 30.0 cm & 35.0 cm // Associated information: This plastic form of the traditional wooden thatching spar was developed by John Fletcher, thatcher of Christchurch, Dorset in c. 1990. They are still available. // They were used in the same way as wooden spars to fix liggers, cross rods & scuds to the thatch. // According to Mr. King plastic spars are not very popular with thatchers, because despite the toothed patterning of the arms, they do not grip into the thatch as well as the traditional type. The reason for this is because they do not have as much spring in them to hold themselves tight in the thatch under tension. // References: … ‘, Typed/hand-written list in accession file: No. 30 & 35.
Entstehungsort
Christchurch [Dorset]
Datum
1990 - 1990
Objektbezeichnung
Material
Technik
Digitales Dokument
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_16328.tif - High resolution image