• Thatch in England
• How Thatch Works
• Local Tradition
• Combed Wheat Reed
• Water Reed
• Fixing
• Re-thatching
• Ridges
• Flush Ridges
• Block-cut Ridges
• Ridge Ornaments
• Eaves & Gables
• Dormers
• Netting
• Chimneys
• Quality Thatchers
• Archaeology
• Listed Buildings
• Thatch Life-span
• Fire Precautions
• Thatch on New Buildings

Ridges

Evidence from illustrations and photographs shows that, externally, traditional thatched British roofs were plain, whether on high status buildings or simple cottages. This plain character fits in well with the external appearance of British buildings.

The ridges of some of Britains thatched buildings today may fall into two categories, flush and block-cut, with variations in each category. There is no practical advantage in a block-cut ridge over a flush ridge on an overcoated roof. A patterned block-cut ridge will cost more than a ridge without cut patterns.