John Kenward – Master Thatcher

Welcome to kentsurreysussexmasterthatchers.com

Master thatchers for Kent Surrey Sussex and the UK

This website is designed to boast a small part of my portfolio in order to illustrate my passion for thatching and hence demonstrate my skills developed in the 49 years of experience gained by myself in the business.

I would like to emphasize that there is no job too big and no distance too far. The portfolio shows my outstanding work all around the country and I would encourage anyone to contact me if you require a thatched related service.

A Brief History: The first time I ever climbed up a roof was at the tender age of 4. My father was thatching a big house at Henley on Thames. On this particular day my father went for a cup of tea, I came round and saw the ladder against the roof. I proceeded to climb up, I got to the top of the ladder. Low and behold my father had a look of shock on his face when he returned. He got me down safely and since that day I have been up and down ladders for 49 years.
I am now a sixth generation Thatcher and my craft has been inherited and handed down from generation to generation. My brother David is also a Thatcher. Within our family we are familiar with all types of thatch; Water Reed, Combed Wheat Reed, Long Straw, Heather and even Veldt Grass. In doing all the different kinds of thatch it does make a change to use different materials.
I have thatched from Norfolk to the New Forest. However most of my work is predominantly in London and the home counties, although I will and have travelled all around the country. I have my two step-sons working with me, Gavin and Aaron and unless otherwise stated we do not use sub-contractors. We pride ourselves in doing all the work ourselves.
My father was 82 when he last went up a thatched roof and his father, 91. My passion for thatching makes no distance too far, and no job too big or too small.a