Impressive craftsmanship as new thatched roof takes shape at Martlesham Antiques Centre
Martlesham Antiques Centre has an impressive new thatched roof.
A team of thatchers, led by master thatched Dominic Meek, from Walpole has spent the past eight weeks re-thatching the mock Tudor building.
Martlesham Antiques Centre has the look of a medieval building, which was topped off by old reed thatch, but is actually a more modern building than it appears.
Now it has new thatch.
Now, owner Bob Frost said: “It should be good for another 100 years.”
Bob, who runs the business with his son Robert, said; “It was actually built in 1910 by Woodbridge builders Ingram Smith, as a tea rooms.
“It was built for two ladies, I think, and had a Japanese garden.
“It was a tea rooms, and a transport cafe. Everybody will remember it as the Flamingo Cafe.”
In the 1950s and 1960s the Flamingo Cafe had “a bit of a reputation,” he said. Local girls met American boyfriends, from Bentwaters, there.
Bob added: “I have had it for about 34 years now. I have had it re-ridged twice since I have been here. It has been getting thin in places.
“The last time it was done, 15/20 years ago I was told you won’t get away with it again.
“The thatchers have done a fantastic job.
“It has taken eight weeks and they just have the shed out the back to do. This is real, impressive craftsmanship.”
The thatched roof had originally been reed, he said, and had been replaced with Norfolk reed this time.
Thatcher Dominic Meek, from Walpole near Halesworth, said: “It was a lovely job.
“I really enjoy it; it is more a lifestyle choice rather than a making a lot of money.
“I am very busy, and booked up to a year ahead.”
Dominic is chairman of the East Anglian Master Thatchers Association and has been a thatcher for 21 years.
“We are desperate for new people to come into the trade. We need new apprentices to take it on.
“I mainly work on my own, though I have a few people to help me out on larger projects.”
His next big project is a house in Worlingworth.
“I supposed I work mainly in a 20 mile radius, and from Southwold to the Ipswich area.”
Keen local photographer Charmian Berry, from Woodbridge, decided to follow the restoration project by taking a series of images.
These are some of her photographs.
She used a Sony 700 and a Nikon D5300, both with telephoto lenses and a tripod.
“It has been very interesting, I will produce an album of it.”
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