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A length of rope made from two twisted strands of grass which have been coiled together. It dates from circa 1700, and was used in thatching to tie the thatch to the rafters - it still maintains the shape of the rafter to which it was tied. The rope was part of an exhibition of teaching material on thatching used by Jeff King, a thatcher and former thatching advisor at CoSIRA, at the Adult Education Centre at Knuston Hall, near Wellingborough, Northamptonshire.

1 sample rope: grass; fragile condition

MERL miscellaneous note – 94/26–94/76 – ‘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 (Museum of English Rural Life) – 'Recorder: JMB // Date: 24.8.99 // Description: A piece of rope made from twisted grass. The grass has been twisted to form two strands which are then coiled together. // Dimensions: Length: approx. 70 cms // Diameter: 1.5–2.0 cm // Associated information: … Part of an exhibit of teaching material used by Mr. King at Knuston Hall, Adult Education Centre, Wellingborough // References: …', Exhibition label – ‘FLAX AND GRASS ROPES // About 300 years old. // Used for tying thatch to rafters. // Note shape of rafter still exists.’

1699 - 1699