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This is a long metal needle with a sharp point and open eye, and a turned wooden handle. It is a thatching tool, used to force the yealms (prepared layers of wetted straw) tightly back into line with bottles (yealms which have been tied at one end and used for setting eaves and gables) overhanging the gables. The needle is part of a collection of thatching tools donated by Jeff King, a thatcher and former thatching advisor at CoSIRA.

1 thatching needle: metal; wood; good condition

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: August 1994 // Description: Metal needle set into a turned wooden handle with a small brass ferrule. The needle has a sharp point and an ‘open’ eye. // Dimensions: Total length: 56.0 cm // Length of handle: 10.5 cm // Associated information: The needle is used to force the ‘yealms’ tightly back into line with the ‘bottles’ which over hang the barge. // A ‘bottle’ is a yealm of straw tied tightly at one end, used for setting eaves & barges. // A ‘yealm’ is a prepared layer of wetted straw 14–18” wide and 4–6” thick. // References: 5790 RIB The Thatcher’s Craft’, Typed/hand-written list in accession file: No. 19.

Wood, Metal