Thatched roof houses are a sign of Ye Olde England. Given so much of the country’s history is preserved in London, including many of its oldest buildings, you may have wondered why there are no thatched roofs to see in the city with the exception of one very famous one.
The reason why thatched roofs are not seen in London is simple: they are not allowed there by law.
The Legislation of Thatched Roofs In London
The ban on thatch in the City of London goes back to the 1180s. Before then, there were outbreaks of huge and rapidly spreading fires in the city, with many losing their lives.
King Henry III decided that London needed to regulate roofing materials in order to make the houses in the city more fire-proof so that fire did not spread so rapidly.
He didn’t like thatched buildings because they were combustible and allowed fire to spread easily, so he banned all thatched roof buildings.
In 1189, the Assize of Buildings, a legal code instituted by King Edward III, ordered that thatched roofs be replaced with tile or slate. However, not everyone obeyed the law.
After a terrible fire in 1212, in which thousands died, the City of London authorities made it compulsory for all new houses to be roofed with tiles, shingles or boards.
Any existing roofs with thatch had to be plastered over within 8 days or the alderman and other ‘law-abiding men’ may come to demolish the roof.
These laws were generally very successful in preventing large-scale fires although as always, people flouted the laws for whatever reason.
Not everybody could afford to replace the material, and there were some rich people who liked the aesthetic who considered themselves above the law..
There is no doubt that the Great Fire of London of 1666 would have been far worse than it actually was had the use of banned thatch been much more widespread than it was at the time.
After this fire, the obligation for Londoners to adhere to the law was tightened still further.
Different local authorities have attempted to control the use of thatched roof buildings since then.
Now, there’s now only one building in London that is allowed to have a thatched roofing.
What Is The Only Building In London Allowed To Have A Thatched Roof?
Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre is the only building in London allowed to have a thatched roof.
Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre is an attraction found on Bankside, near the River Thames. It was built as a modern-day replica of the Elizabethan Globe Theatre that was demolished in 1644.
Today, visitors can come and watch theatrical performances, go on tours around different parts of the site or just sit outside with a drink and admire the building’s characteristics.
Why Was Thatch Roof banned in Europe?
Thatch roofs were banned in Europe in the late 18th century due to concerns about fire safety. Thatched roofs were a common form of roofing in Europe, especially in rural areas, but they posed a significant fire hazard as they were highly combustible and often ignited easily.
As towns and cities grew larger and more densely populated, the risk of fires spreading became more significant, and authorities began to view thatched roofs as a liability. Thatched roofs were banned in many European cities, including London, Paris, and Berlin, in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
In addition to fire safety concerns, thatched roofing was also associated with poverty and outdated building practices. As European societies became more urbanized and industrialized, there was a growing desire for more modern, standardized housing, and thatched roofs came to be seen as a symbol of backwardness and a lack of progress.
Today, thatched roofs are still used in some parts of Europe, but they are subject to strict building regulations and are typically only permitted in rural areas where there is less risk of fire spreading.
Thatched Roof in London
Thatched buildings are not seen in the city of London as they are not allowed there.
Authorities have attempted to control their use for almost a thousand years by implementing legislation that has banned all buildings from having thatch.
However, there is still one building in London where a thatched roof is legal; that is Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.
