Seeking the final straw to rethatch medieval barn roof

A sheaf of longstraw is being taken on a tour of the county to raise cash to save the Tithe Barn in Landbeach.

A sheaf of longstraw is being taken on a tour of the county to raise cash to save the Tithe Barn in Landbeach.

The Tithe Barn Trust has already raised more than £60,000 but estimates a further £38,400 is needed to get the five tonnes of local, hand-drawn longstraw needed to rethatch the roof.

The Tithe Barn is one of few in the country still standing next to its medieval rectory. The timber frame also needs strengthening.

Gemma O’Shea, chair of Tithe Barn Trust, said: “The Tithe Barn is unique and is in serious need of rethatching.

“So, every week until we raise the funds, the Tithe Barn Trust is sending a sheaf of longstraw to various locations around Cambridgeshire to highlight our fundraising quest.

“It went for a punt down the River Cam, for a pint at the Wheatsheaf pub and to visit students at Cottenham Village College.”

Tithe Barn Trust aims to maximise public access to the barn once it is restored. You can sponsor a sheaf for £5 at totalgiving.co.uk/mypage/TitheBarnTrust. To make suggestions of where the trust might take the sheaf next week tweet @TBarnT.