51/231

A thatching needle is used to secure the bunches of straw to the roof and to each other with twine (tarred to keep the mice away). This needle was made by a blacksmith in Chearsley, Buckinghamshire, and was used by Mr Watson, a thatcher from Cuddington, Buckinghamshire.

1 thatcher's needle: metal; good condition

MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'Thatching needles are used for securing the bunches or YEALMS of straw to the roof and to each other. The needle is threaded with twine (tarred to keep the mice away) and plunged into the straw. It passes round the FLUES or rafters, which support the thatch, and over each yealm of straw, and the twine is then tightly knotted. // This needle has an eye at each end and measures 2 ft. 3.5 inches in length. // It was given to Mr. Massingham by Mr. Watson of Cuddington (Bucks), the thatcher who worked on the Hermitage roof. It was made by the blacksmith of Chearsley (Bucks) more than 40 years ago.', MERL list / description [Massingham Collection, October 1989] – 'ACC. NO.: 51/231 // NAME: THATCHER'S NEEDLE // NEG NO.: 35/2056 // STORAGE: P.Ex. (Permanent Exhibition) Thatching.'

Chearsley

1875-01-01 - 1899-12-31

Late-nineteenth century