Thatch

This stamp was issued in 1970 and withdrawn in February 1971 just before decimalisation which took place in the UK on 15 February 1971. The UK was one of the last countries in the world to migrate to a decimal currency system, even though plans to decimalise were introduced in the 1820s...

Thatch was the common roofing material in most of the British Isles until introduction of high quality slate was made possible during the industrial revolution. Slate is a wonderful roofing material, being light, water resistant, pretty and available in a variety of shapes and sizes. While most people now use cheaper concrete tiles, the damage was done and thatch is now quite rare, and the expensive option not the option for the poor people! This stamp celebrates Thatch in Ulster, however there were probably more thatched buildings 50 years ago than today, even with the recent revival in the material...

Didn't do a great deal today, it was cold and the snow was still on the ground outside until late in the evening when we had some rain, which washed most of it away. For dinner my wife made sausage and lentils, and we had a lovely savory bun/muffin thing with it to soak up the gravy.