Hotels Guide for Devon, England

 

Welcome to our Devon Hotels Guide, a map based guide to Devon Hotels can be found here.

 

There is much more general information about Devon in our Devon Tourist Guide .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Devon Calling tells you about Devon's culture. And includes background like

Thatched cottages are considered to be part of the Devon countryside, with their picturesque cob walls. Originally thatching wasstraw, but todayreeds, which are more durable are employed. Straw was very difficult clean completely of the original grain, and if it was not removed, then it would grow in the roof. Reeds are longer, more durable, quicker to put in place and much cleaner to handle than straw. Reed will last some 60 years, as opposed around 15 years for straw

Devon has so many thtched roof houses, because so many houses are made from cob. Cob is a form of puddled clay, which is very durable, but will not carry a weight like clay tiles. Thatch was light, cheap. So the two materials, one for the walls, one for the roof go together. The craft of thatching is highly skilled and takes years of apprenticeship. You will find thatcher's work not only on cottages, but also exhibited at craft and regional folk arts festivals like Sidmouth.