bere regis church , dorset

c16 thatch hooks, designed to fit onto long poles to remove burning thatch from buildings. most thatch fires were caused by chimneys overheating: the thatch burns from the inside, so because it is designed to repel water, the only way to put the fire out is to drag the thatch off. these are in the c16 porch over the main c14 entrance, with the remains of a crucifix carved in between.