Windswept marsh grass grasses reeds Norfolk stiffkey
Reed has been used for thatching for many centuries, probably since man first settled near wetlands, since the obvious roofing material is that which is close at hand and forms a durable roof. It was not until the development of the rail network in the early and middle nineteenth century, which brought cheap Welsh slate across the country, that tiled roofs became abundant. As this coincided with an increase in population, and so of housing, the decline of thatch was slow. Thatching reached its ebb about 1935-60. It was then boosted by the introduction of short-stemmed cereals, and combine harvesters, which decreased the amount of ‘wheat reed’ and straw available for thatching. If thatched roofs were to continue as before reed thatching had to extend into new areas (although the total thatch in Britain is still predominantly from wheat straw)
Size: 3800px × 5700px
Location: Reed bed,Stiffkey,Norfolk,East Anglia,England
Photo credit: © Neil Dangerfield / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
Keywords: anglia, blowing, blue, brown, ear, east, golden, grass, head, leaves, marsh, norfolk, reeds, seed, sky, thatch, thatching, visible, wind, windswept
