Scottish Traditional Building Skills Audit Scoping ... - Historic Scotland

THATCHING
The qualification which covers thatching is the SVQ level 3 roofing occupations
(construction) (thatching option route). From assessing the written documentation
for this course 83% of the wish-list skills are covered.
The units appear to cover the interpretation of given information and
specifications rather than assessing a methodology for progression of work.
Whilst the unit “thatch roof structures with specialist features” does contain
references to using local styles and materials it does not indicate whether the
recognition of different traditions is covered or whether specific regional methods
of fixing are taught or assessed. Nor is it clear whether the sourcing and gathering
of traditional / local materials is covered by the qualification.
However, there were no Scottish colleges offering the Thatching SVQ at the time of
writing (until recently, Inverness College offered this SVQ).
FULL LIST OF WISH-LIST SKILLS: THATCHING
Archival research
Assessing condition of underlying material
Assessing existing structure- timber and stone
Assessment of flashings, gutters, features
Bundling and tying sheaths
Choosing appropriate material
Features: hips, chimneys, gables, valleys, and eyebrow windows
Fixings (of varying sorts)
Pegging (hazel or willow)
Planning appropriate course of action
Quantifying and calculating
Recognising regional/ local materials and styles.
Repairs/ Maintenance- moss removal etc
Ridges
Seasonal gathering, harvesting, sourcing materials- (heather/ marram grass/
broom)
Securing-netting (wire/ rope, fishing nets etc), weights, ropes
Sourcing materials (straw and reed)
Thatching with heather
Scottish Traditional Building Skills Audit Scoping Exercise
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