The meeting house is historically important because it has not been modified since then, other than the original heather-thatch roof being replaced by slates during the 19th century.
In 1838, E. tectorum was noted by Irish botanist William Henry Harvey (as R. Tectorum) for its use as a thatching material, and in the making of brooms and baskets.
They have been found in some fairly unusual locations, such as Buteo nests, straw and thatching, and discarded paper.
The Drummonds retaliated by gathering all the brushwood they could find and stacking it against the church, which was roofed with thatch and heather, and lighting it.
In Vanuatu, where it is known by the Bislama name natanggura, it is widely used as a material for thatching houses.
The Wylye valley is a picturesque valley dotted with small chocolate box villages composed of thatched cottages and stone-built pubs.
Thomas Hardy's Cottage, in Higher Bockhampton, Dorset, is a small cob and thatch building that is the birthplace of the English author Thomas Hardy.