Thatching Weekend Courses at Thomas Roberts House, Hatherleigh in the heart of rural West Devon

Thomas Roberts House overlooks the roofs of the small ancient market town of Hatherleigh, set deep in rural West Devon.  The town has changed little in the last 100 years with cottages roofed with either thatch or slate and made of cob.  Thomas Roberts House was partially rebuilt in 1800 in the Georgian style as the town's first school and we have renamed the house after the school master.  Over the last 5 years it has undergone major sympathetic restoration and now is running as a Country B&B with 3 lovely ensuite bedrooms and a hot tub in the garden.

The surrounding countryside is a mosaic of fields bounded by old oak trees with distant views of Dartmoor.  It is in these pleasant surroundings that we invite you to spend a relaxed and interesting weekend with us.  Our wish is to provide you with good home cooking, a friendly atmosphere and an insight into thatching. 

Hatherleigh is easily accessible to the M5 via the A30 dual-carriageway at Okehampton (7 miles) and then 22 miles to Exeter.

For those not wishing to take part in the thatching there are many alternative interests locally: RHS Rosemoor Gardens, 1646 Civil War Museum and Dartington Glass in Torrington, a selection of National Trust properties within a one hour drive, walking on Dartmoor or the Tarka Trail nearby.  There are many local walks to shops, pottery, art gallery and a choice of 3 pubs in town.  We are only an hours' drive from the Eden Project in Cornwall and some of the special Cornish Gardens.

NB  This course will not equip you to thatch a roof, it takes a 5 year apprenticeship to learn how to thatch.  Keen DIY's will find it useful.

Friday
We will give you the opportunity to not only find out about the ancient craft of Thatching but also to have a go.  We anticipate our guests  (a maximum of 8) to arrive between 4.00 pm and 6.00 pm on Friday to be revived by a cup of tea.  This will be followed by a brief introduction to Thatching tools and materials.  Supper will be between 7.30 and 8.00.

Saturday
After a Traditional English Breakfast the course will start at 9.30 am.  This will take place in our barn on made up roof frames, so as to be out of the weather and you need have no fear of heights.  During the day you will have 'hands on' instruction by a retired master thatcher and helper who will lead you through all of the stages involved in thatching a roof.  We will be using both Combed Wheat Reed and Water Reed.  We will be stopping for coffee, a snack lunch and a genuine Devon Cream Tea with home made scones, clotted cream and strawberry jam.  Supper will be around 7.30.

Sunday
Breakfast will be followed by a further spell in the barn, with a demonstration of ridging and patching and any other queries.  After coffee (weather permitting) a short walk through the ancient woodland nearby which runs down to the river.  There are a wide variety of woodland plants, birds and if you are lucky, deer.  We will return to a traditional roast lunch.  The weekend finishes after lunch.