[nb-NO]Object number[nb-NO]
2022/123
[nb-NO]Description[nb-NO]
Used 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. The donor offered three but only one acquired.
[nb-NO]Physical description[nb-NO]
1 thatching spar: plastic
[nb-NO]Archival history[nb-NO]
Letter Donor to MERL, 17 September 2020 - 'Please find enclosed some hideous plastic spars which I removed from a longstraw cottage in Needham, South Norfolk. These are a donation to the MERL. I find the plastic spar to be an obscene indicator of the single use wolrd in which we live. Thatching, especially in longstraw, is the most natural of construction methods. I will use two materials to create a roof, threshed wheat straw and hazel (excluding wire netting and chimney flashing). If plastic spars performed better than hazel, I could at least begin to understand why some may choose them. They do not, however. In every way they are inferior. They promote single use, non degradable plastics while also reducing demand for sustainable, local coppice work, leading to a skill loss. They are moderately cheaper, but perhaps only £50 on a £20,000 roof. In short, they disgust me. I would be delighted to respond to any further thatching related items in your collection.'
[nb-NO]Date[nb-NO]
1990 - 2020
[nb-NO]Object name[nb-NO]
[nb-NO]Material[nb-NO]
[nb-NO]Dimensions[nb-NO]
