The old properties of Batheaston have a variety of roof shapes – pitched, gabled and mansard roofs are common.
In the 17th Century Batheaston builders looked to Gloucestershire rather than Somerset for inspiration, not surprising in view of the location of the village as a far north east Somerset border village. Batheaston is a Cotswold village with a goodly number of houses with steeply gabled front and rear elevations. Nevertheless, from the 18th Century the mansard roof became popular due to the head room it offered at attic level. The mansard roof is normal for terraces, the High Street as example where the obvious way to extend the property is to go upwards (9). Even so, mansard roofs are to be found throughout the village. Invariably the houses have raised verges laid with coping stones.
Thatching was known up to at least the late 1960’s when, sadly, the last 17th Century thatched cottages of Batheaston were demolished, despite their listing as of architectural-historical interest. But, as befits a stone village, stone slates were the norm deriving from the Forest Marble deposits at Bathford. Even where Welsh slates, clay tiles or other substitutes are now used there is ample evidence of former stone coverings with substantial roof timbers to bear a weight which could be of 1 ton or more of stone for every 100 sq.ft. of roof ( Alec Clifton-Taylor & A.S. Ireson, 1994, p.216) and relatively steep roof slopes of 45%-50% to throw off rain water. Welsh slates and clay tiles are more watertight and do not require such steep pitches.
9. Batheaston High Street, 1868, drawing by J. Irvine, showing gabled,
mansard and pitched roofs
