You’re in for a big surprise in Bear Lane
Published:
5:30 AM April 3, 2015
Updated:
6:48 PM November 7, 2020
Sidmouth thatcher, Mark Smith, finishes his latest roof at Pooh Cottage on Bear Lane, Knowle. Ref shs 2186-14-15AW. Picture: Alex Walton - Credit: Archant
A master thatcher took inspiration from his latest project’s Bear Lane address and crafted these three ursine animals to top it off.
Sidmouth’s Mark Smith left his mark on Pooh Cottage in Knowle, completing a three-month re-thatching that took the whole winter and 4,000 bundles of water reed.
His customers sometimes request owls or pheasants - but this was the first time he had ‘conjured’ a bear.
Mark has been thatching in Sidmouth for 32 years. Some of his projects include re-roofing Sidford’s Blue Ball pub after it was damaged by a fire and working on Sidmouth Cricket Club’s pavilion.