Thatched Cottage Stock Image

A beautiful little cottage in Scotland with a red door and a thatched roof. In the UK, especially England and Wales, thatchers have been practicing their craft since long before the Middle Ages. Archaeologists have found Bronze Age evidence of thatching and archaeological thatch is sometimes found under other materials when ancient historic properties are renovated. In fact, this roofing material has probably been in use in Britain since people first began gathering in villages. And even in the 21st century, there are still about 1,000 professional thatchers covering storybook cottages with thatch of straw, cereals or Norfolk reeds.