Supplies of straw for thatched roofs are low due to three poor harvests, says a thatcher A thatcher with a three-year waiting list for his services said a shortage of straw had caused problems for ...

SHIRAKAWA, Gifu Prefecture--Villagers in this renowned UNESCO World Heritage site came together to re-thatch the roof of a multitiered house here for the first time in five years on May 13.

South African John Roston Smith specializes in thatched roofs, which are gaining popularity in other parts of the world. WSJ's Patrick McGroarty visits with him at several work sites.

Thatched roofs were once a common sight in the Japanese ... The steep pitch of the roofs is designed to help shed the three ...

Now, thanks to grants from National Highways and Historic England, the roof is being restored. It's quite a job. Among the structure's many superlatives, it supports one of the biggest thatched ...

Homeowners can apply to their local planning authority for permission to change the material of their thatched roof. Historic England have a statutory role in the planning system and local ...