The above photo was taken in the adorable seaside fishing village of Mousehole (pronounced Mowzhall), just past Penzance along the spectacular B3315 coastal road. With its tiers of cottages, miniature harbor, and narrow lanes, I thought it was the cutest village ever.
Until, of course, I saw the next one and the next one and the next one. They are ALL CUTE. And all filled with thatched cottages.
Thatched cottages are one of those things that are iconic of England. In America, we’re used to seeing them only in Thomas Kinkade paintings. Color me thrilled when I found them everywhere in the villages and countryside of Cornwall and Wessex. We even saw workers thatching a new roof–and not in some sort of historical theme park but in real life, in a village.
There are more thatched roofs in the United Kingdom than any other country, and the typical thatch material is wheat straw or water reed. Since a thatched roof can last 50 years and new thatching is laid over the old, there are medieval thatched buildings with under-thatching over 600 years old. How cool is that? If I lived in England, I would so be living in a thatched cottage with one of these gorgeous gates at the head of the path.
It would sit beside one of these adorable country lanes.
I would so totally have some sheep.
In the village would be this sweet 1000-year-old church.
There would be a hidden stream nearby.
And a pond with an island for the geese.
I’d sell fresh veggies on the side of the road and leave a note telling people to leave the money in the gate box.
Each evening, I’d watch the sun sink over the sea.
And then…..
…..head to the pub for a pint!
What about you?
I’m on vacation. This week, I’m republishing a series of posts from my 2006 trip to England. Enjoy! Keep up with my current trip on the Daily Farm Photo page.