A thatched roof is made of plant stalks or straw. It’s one of the oldest ways to make a roof. Thatched roofs are used all over the world and they were very popular before and during Shakespeare’s time.

In 1613, the Globe Theatre burned to the ground when a spark from a cannon used in a play set the thatched roof on fire. Most of old London was destroyed by The Great London Fire in 1666. Thatched roofs made the fire move quickly. After the fire, they were outlawed for safety reasons.

Today, the rebuilt Globe Theatre is the first building in London in almost 400 years to be built with a thatched roof.

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Text & Photo: Jenny M. Buccos