7. The British Thached Roof 英国的茅草屋顶
(1) The view over a valley of a tiny village with thatchd roof cottages around a church;a drive through a narrow village street lined with thached cottages painted pink or white;the sight over the rolling hills of a pretty collection of thached farm buildings-these are still common sights in parts of England.Most people will agree that the thached roof is an essential part of the attraction of the English countryside.
(2) Thaching is in fact the oldest of all the building crafts practiced in the British Isles.Although thatch has always been used for cottage and farm buildings,it was once used for castles and churches,too.
(3) Thaching is a solitary craft,which often runs in families.The craft of thaching as it is practiced today has changed very little since the Middle Age.Over 800 full-time thatchers are employed in England and Wales today,maintaining and renewing the old roofs as well as thaching newer houses.Many property owners choose thatch not only for its beauty but because they know it will keep them cool in summer and warm in winter.
(4) In fact,if we look at developing countries,over half the world lives under thach,but they all do it in different ways.People in developing countries are often reluctant to go back to traditional materials and would prefer modern buildings.However,they may lack the money to allow them to import the necessary materials.Their temporary mud huts with thatched roofs of wild grasses often only last six months.Thach which has been done the British way lasts from twenty to sixty years,and is an defective defense against the heat.