I haven’t posted a picture of any thatched animals we have come across in our work for quite some time now, so here are some thatched ducklings we saw on a recently thatched roof in Ashdon. This is a job we have been doing for a number of years, and each time we have been the thatch looked increasingly tired, until on the last occasion it had a tarpaulin stretched over the rear section to keep the rain out. The new occupiers thought it was high time for some drastic action and had the whole roof entirely rethatched, with remarkable results. I think that you will agree that the thatched ducklings are a pleasing touch. It is an interesting fact that the farm is surrounded by a dried-up medieval moat, so at one time in the past ducklings would have been swimming around the farm. Medieval moats are quite a common feature in this area of Northwest Essex and yet unlike the defensive moats built around castles these moats were decorative statements of wealth constructed by rich landowning families.

As can be seen in the photograph, the farmhouse has a large inglenook chimney. However at the business end of things there is a Dovre 250 Multi-Fuel Stove. This make of stove has a fixed baffle plate, so the chimney has to be swept via an inspection hatch in the stovepipe. In my view it is not the most attractive of stoves, but has a functional, businesslike appearance. The customer said that it really does a good job of heating the room in the winter. Dovre are a French stove company whose products are distributed in the UK by Stovax.