Hollowell Steam group Thatching Bus Shelter

For more information on thatch try http://www.thatch.org

Architects Impression

A group of steam enthusiasts willing to try their hand at building and thatching a bus shelter for the benefit of Hollowell village, supposedly under my supervision as I am not able to work my self.

See this space for photo's as work progresses.  I hope to cover the whole job as it happens: From building to sweeping up. Work force composed of Hollowell Steam Group and supporters hindered by a geriatric thatcher (me)

If you email  you may even get answers to any questions you may have.

The stone work is now completed, apparently the honey colour comes from iron deposits, it can vary from light, very soft stone to literally iron hard.

The Straw (Huntsman) not very traditional looking as the head is stripped off by an adapted combine, the straws mown and then 'big baled'  this is a huge labour saving for the farmer over threshing and much safer to transport than loose straw, although the colour tends to be a little dull it does not affect the life of the roof. I would prefer thrashed loose or bolting tied but due to delays with planners was unable to source better. The material is very good although a little short for most purposes ideal for a round roof. Unfortunately it contains a good deal of leaf and rubbish which has to be manually removed, instead of 1 ton covering 4 squares (a square is 100 square feet) this will be closer to 1 ton to 3 squares. Maybe I am too fussy.  

Hazel for sways, spars and liggers are cut ready for splitting (cut from part of Rockingham Great Forest) this area has been harvested like this for around 2000 years.

The next stage will be the fitting of the wall plate and rafters. As the plan shape is like an Easter egg (I prefer Faberge) it is causing a great deal of head scratching but Allen says he has confidence in us. By the end of the week we should have cracked it.

Lamport Steam rally intervention has temporarily suspended building duties but work should start on 30th May; it can't possibly rain any more can it?

 5/6/00 Oh yes it can rain more, rafters are all on, battening and straw preparation in hand if it stops raining.

9/6/00 Slight hiccup, Mr Eaton in his wisdom has decided to perform the Hollowell anti rain dance, I think the tune is the "Dam Busters"     Unfortunately he forgot to lower his undercarriage at a vital moment and has suffered damage to his superstructure, breaking his collar bone, he managed to attend the supporters group meeting last night at The Obelisk Centre, get well soon Allen at least it has slowed him down to my pace.

13/6 At last the straw is being put onto the roof, the complexity of the woodwork can be seen now, congratulations to Dave for his 'chainsaw' artistry !

14/6 Work is now proceeding slowly with Robin and Dave coping far better than I expected, it's not the sort of job you pick up in five minutes but they are doing very well indeed, slow but certain, I have not had time to spend with the yealm makers yet, they have the really hard work and no glory. Tomorrow I must include them on here.

15/6 Unsung hero's Ted Hunter and Deryck Stoneman yealming straw at a cracking rate, the roof is progressing at a good steady pace with apprentice thatchers Robin and Dave getting too good at it now, It's a good job I have "retired" I could do without the competition.

20/6 Despite temperatures in the 80s Dave and Robin have slaved away preparing straw for today's bash on the roof, I chickened out on the hot weather but managed a day on the roof, I hesitate to say days work! I am having tomorrow off to recover, Robin and Dave are back at the Brickle House salt mine preparing straw again.

3/6/ We ran out of straw! the rally was more important anyway, usual success usual smoke and oil. Since I was presented with a 'Freebie' helicopter ride have a look at the Rally site air photo instead of bus shelters. Back to work at the end of the week.

21/6 Did not say what week did I ? More straw got, Sally Mays helped boost moral by helping with the yealming. Dave is working on the roof and Allen is now doing his turn at yealms. I take the photo's

17/8 We are not built for speed are we! sorry for the delay, I have been in hospital all the others in the pub we have had a problem with the clock, the maker got some parts the wrong size and some people have to earn a living --- getting close now to a finish.

25/8 Nearly there, final trimming to be done, the netting is put on in two parts, the ridge done separately to keep the netting flush to the roof in all the nooks and crannies. This part is nearly complete. The main roof will have a final trim and be netted when this is done. The lead flashing is cut ready but will not be put into place until the last moment to avoid dents from ladders. The clock is in and ready for the grand opening

10/10 At last the job is nearly complete, at least the thatching, netting and lead work are finished. The clock will not keep the right time, supposedly a radio controlled time correction electronic masterpiece. Go back to clock work I say! Still some more work involving an old pub sign from the village now going to display scenes from the village. Don't ask me how what or where, not my department

4/11/00 One of our local Members of Parliament Phil Slawford of Kettering and the Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire together with church and other local dignitaries plus steam engines have opened our mini millennium dome. Quite a large quantity of Scotch and wine was drunk and food a'La Eaton family was eaten with the usual relish