By May 2012 our neolithic-style roundhouse had been standing for ten years in the wild heart of Dartmoor and surviving a series of winters with heavy snow and fierce storms.  The roof definitely needed a new layer of thatch. Although we had been making regular repairs  during this time, the original rye grass was worn thin and rotting so that in some places the wooden spars were starting to become exposed. We welcomed back Sam Carnell, the master thatcher who supervised the creation of the first roof, along with thatcher’s mate, John Sharpe. Nigel assisted with ground work and the making of wheatstraw eave wads, joined by Tom Leworthy who came to learn thatching techniques.

The roundhouse has seen thousands of people enter its doors over the last ten years: so many workshop participants, passing visitors, festival celebrants, invited groups and local village residents. Those who have travelled from ice, mountain, desert, distant islands and nearby hills to share bright fires, ancient tales, deep songs, wild drumming, gentle fluting, beautiful rituals, quiet vigils and all the magic to be found sitting in a circle inside thatch and stone and oak. With thank to this extraordinary house for sheltering so much and to Sam for all his work to keep the roundhouse roof going.

Below you will find a time-lapse film and a sliding photo gallery – click on the first  image to open the slide show and to view the images in full.

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Sam, John & Tom

Lower Merripit Roundhouse 2012

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