Thatch used to be a waste by-product following the harvest which was local, cheap and plentiful as was labour, when slate or hand fired clay were expensive.

Now thatch straw or reeds have to be grown or imported their vernacular use is an expensive specialist service. It is mo longer a commercial alternative to mass produced concrete tiles so as the costs spiral more and more pressure is brought on owners to retain thatch which can often only be enforced by listing which leads either to poor maintenance or to a forced sale.

Thatch is a lovely adaptable tradition and is entirely appropriate on a vernacular cottage- as a modern building material it has wonderful thermal insulation but the skills and costs are prohibitively expensive.