Nick Walker

I've just received a copy of A Thatcher's Journey by Tom Allan....go and get yourself one, as it promises to be a wonderful book

@be_reading Not quite-same base material (clay/straw/cow muck mix) but clay lump is formed into large bricks and air dried,then used. Whereas cob is layered up in situ,building the walls as you go. Cob is used in the west, clay lump more in East Anglia

A freshly thatched roof, in Norfolk. I have loved working here, using local and natural materials to revitalise a delightful cottage. The cottage is clay lump, the roof is reed and straw. All low tech, all effective, all beautiful.

@AuntieEntity8 Clay lump is basically a large, unfired brick, made of clay and straw and cow muck. They are allowed to air dry for a few months, then used like bricks, held together with a clay mortar.

@simon_puxley Ah, those straw animals are not to my taste at all...far too twee! A well thatched roof will always look better without them, in my eyes.

@TheMasterThatch Stunning! Though sad they’re not allowing you to do a ridge decoration with a couple of otters scampering along the roof. Always love those for their added individuality and romance.

@aahrens430 Thanks, and yes I was on that programme

@PenderynDic @BFujer You're wrong in this case-the owner is a woman of advancing years who has lived here for over 40 years. She certainly isn't rich.

@TheMasterThatch @BFujer And only accessible to rich people . But beautiful yeah

@AlwaysAlba58 Slightly different technique, though same base material

@TheMasterThatch Spectacular job on the roof. Also, new terminology for me, clay lump. To me it's "cob"....good to know another term. I like clay lump much better!

@debrakdabra Won't be too long before yours is looking just as smart!

@TheMasterThatch Lovely work Nick! My ridge is looking well tatty.

@ForOurIzzy It will be fine...and keep you cool inside too

@MrSalvenStadl Yes-they will sometimes pick at the ridge, so the wire deters them

@TheMasterThatch Why the mesh over the top? Bird damage?

@CallumGRobinson @ArtTransworld @DoubledayUK @TransworldBooks @CWAgencyUK @AgentSophieL @JLewisStempel @leeinthelakes @hanwints @Millsreid11 @KatsCow Wonderful stuff, congratulations on this-I shall look forward to diving in

THRILLED to reveal the cover of the most meaningful thing I've ever made - my debut book, Ingrained: The Making of a Craftsman Huge thanks to Lucy Schmidt, @ArtTransworld, and the authors who've so generously read and endorsed Available to pre-order now linktr.ee/ingrainedbook

@PeteMoring Nope, clay lump is very different from bricks. Usually found in East Anglia, clay lump is large blocks of clay, formed in moulds and air dried, held together with a wet clay 'mortar'. Bricks are smaller, kiln fired and joined by cement or lime mortar.

"#Daub holing up - well - lumps of #Clay" 🤔 . That'll be #Bricks then? 😂😂 .

@WellManneredXS Wow-4000 years! Extraordinary stuff, and again shows the worth of traditional, natural techniques.

@TheMasterThatch Wow! Please do let us see the putting in the roof bit too! 😊It reminds me of the reconstituted mudbrick the gentlemen used to make up new bricks to conserve our site at Lisht - they reused all the crumbly eroded debris - 4000 year renewal process!

Getting mucky with daub today, a material that never ceases to amaze me

@AdamSharpe15 Indeed they are....or at least they certainly have been for the last 70 years. But I think there is more interest now in traditional techniques and materials. I feel positive about their future.

@TheMasterThatch Just finished some lime washing. Ditto. Sadly many of these old materials are overlooked.

@beesley_gillian Ah, thank you-glad you enjoyed the programme!

@TheMasterThatch That's so interesting, I'm familiar with daub but didn't realize you could rejuvenate it and re-use it like this. Extraordinary indeed. Bty, scrolling my Canadian TV channels last weekend I caught your segment with your 2 sweet lads on the English Crafting show, lovely to see.🙂

@GrahamH36921247 No bird....I think the roof looks nice enough as it is

@TheMasterThatch Oh that’s beautiful. Did you put a bird up?

The last day of thatching on a rather lovely cottage in Norfolk.

@norfolkhorns Thanks Dameon!

@3johnablack Probably easier!

@TheMasterThatch I think I’ll continue to follow you instead! 🤔