Building record MHG36860 - High Street, Avoch

Created automatically by NMRS Register Utility
User: Admin, Date: Wed 13 Oct 2004
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NT75NW 318 c.704 551

NH 704 552 As part of the renovation of the cottage on the harbour side, the iron roof was removed exposing the remains of the thatch beneath. At least two and possibly three phases of 'thatch' were identified.
The oldest layer comprised a turf and oat stob thatch. The turves were very sandy and friable and were placed vegetation side down. They were roughly oblong with the longest axis running down the pitch. Between some of the turves, lengths of twisted oat straw (bottles) survived, having been pushed between the turves to fix them in place. Much of the straw that would originally have been exposed at the surface was no longer present, having been raked off or removed by wind erosion.
Above the stob thatch was a layer of rye straw. This, too, had been formed into 'bottles' or 'twists' but in no cases were they fixed between turves. These represent either a bedding layer for the metal roof or material pushed under the eaves from the outside and through damaged parts of the roof interior in order to stop drafts and as insulation.
At the eaves handfuls of wheat straw had been folded over as if pushed in with a forked tool or stick. This is interpreted as straw inserted under the eaves to stop wind penetration. It may have been put on at the same time as the rye or somewhat after but was only found at the eaves.
Sponsor: Historic Scotland
T Holden 2000