Handmade Roof Tiles in Suffolk
Handmade Roof Tiles
Handmade roof tiles for that authentic look
Handmade roof tiles have been used for many hundreds of years and can be found on nearly all roofs across the United Kingdom and Europe. Handmade roof tiles are made from natural clay, with different parts of the country providing different colours, textures and properties to the clay itself. The differences in the clay from different locations translate to a different look and feel to the handmade roof tile that comes from that area.
The ancient Chinese civilisations made extensive use of handmade roof tiles, as did the Romans, who brought their roofing expertise to England when they invaded.
The climate in the Romans native land was undoubtedly warmer than England, and the handmade roof tiles would have helped them to stay cooler in the heat of the sun. They were also better at keeping draughts and rain out in the less hospitable English climate.
Why the handmade roof tile was so important
Handmade roof tiles made from clay were the natural choice for so many properties as they had more positive points than negative ones. For example, the handmade roof tiles that were used many hundreds of years ago were much safer should there be a fire. The house below may have been destroyed by the flames as it was made of a good deal of wood, but the roof could be reclaimed and reused as the handmade roof tiles themselves were born of fire, so were unaffected by the heat.
Most houses at this time in England were thatched and these were not the best at keeping rain out, would often become infested with pests such as insects and rodents, and could even harbour dangerous mould spores that the occupants would breathe in continuously.
Although the Romans tiled many properties in England, there example was not adopted by the indigenous Britons for many centuries. In 1212, the Great Fire of Southwark brought much destruction to that part of London. Following the fire, the monarch King John made a proclamation, stating that buildings in London should be finished with clay roof tiles, rather than thatched roofing, since they were resistant to fire. As the technology for machine made tiles had not yet been invented, the handmade roof tile went into full production to satisfy the Kings order.
Handmade roof tiles were perfect for the English weather
Handmade roof tiles were able to keep the rain, snow and wind out and they provided an inhospitable environment for mould, pests and vermin. Plus, the handmade roof tile was a massive boon to builders throughout the ages as they could be fashioned into virtually any shape and size that was required.
Reclaimed or new handmade roof tiles
Although you can buy used handmade roof tiles, you need to factor in the added cost of reclamation. The tiles need to be removed from the property, cleaned, graded and stored. All this extra work increases the cost of the roof tile, often making it cheaper to buy new handmade roof tiles. Also, you may not be able to source enough reclaimed handmade roof tiles to complete your building project.
Reclaimed handmade roof tiles can add instant aged character to a property, but with advances in manufacturing and firing techniques, it is now cheaper, more convenient and more practical to buy new handmade roof tiles from a reputable clay roof tile manufacturer.
So, if you have a renovation project, a period property or even a new build that requires roofing, choosing new handmade roof tiles from a reputable clay roof tile manufacturer is the perfect way of giving your property that authentic, heritage look and feel that would usually take many years of exposure to the elements to achieve.
A little information about Suffolk
Ghostly goings on in Suffolk
Every county has the odd tale of things that go bump in the night and Suffolk has its fair share too. For example, we've all heard of haunted houses, but in Suffolk, there's a house which itself is the ghost. As spooky as it sounds, this house has been known to appear and disappear in front of petrified onlookers.
The so-called Rougham Mirage has confused and set the hairs on end of locals, visitors and those fascinated with the paranormal for more than one and a half centuries on a stretch of road between Bradfield St George and Rougham Green. In this typical Suffolk location a stately home appears and then vanishes, leaving not a single trace. The first reported sighting was by Robert Palfry in 1860, who was enjoying the last light of a June evening in the fields of Rougham when he suddenly felt a chill in the air. He suddenly became aware that from nowhere, a large red brick house had appeared. The ghostly house has been seen on numerous occasions since.
Suffolk church and two spectres
The ghostly organists of Ipswich Tourist Information Centre on St Stephen's Lane in Ipswich are said to be sisters who were bound to the church where the centre is now based. After the church was declared redundant in 1975, the former place of worship was maintained by two members of the congregation. The ghosts of two elderly ladies, said to be sisters, have been spotted at the place where the organ once stood. It is said that the ghostly siblings return to the place where they once led the congregation in worshipful song and the church which they once proudly helped to maintain. Following its closure, it is said that after they died, the sisters would come back to the place where they felt most at home.
Witch hunts in Suffolk
In Denham near Bury St Edmunds, the beauty of a young girl in the 1640s led to her terrifying end when jealous villagers, who had joined in the cause of nearby witch hunts sought their own form of rough justice. The girl, it is said, was so beautiful that she turned the heads of every man in the village, leading the women of this Suffolk town to accuse her of having more than natural beauty at her disposal and as such, she must have been practicing witchcraft.
The poor girl was drowned in a well close to the church, she was buried at a crossroads where there have been reports of ghostly chains being heard dragging along the road from the church to the site. When the noise from the chains ends, a luminous ball can be seen hovering just above the ground for five or six minutes before it fades away, just like the beauty of a young girl, snuffed out by the envy of the local Suffolk folk who were blinded with superstitious anger and jealousy, before she could live a full and happy life.
A Suffolk tale of forbidden love
A young woman, who was employed in service at Thornham Hall in the early part of the 19th century, fell in love with the Lord of the Manor's son. The two lovers decided that their love surpassed the class barriers of the time and planned to marry, but the young heir's father became aware of their affair and made his anger very clear indeed. When his son refused to put aside his love for the girl and concentrate on a more suitable union befitting his social status, he devised a plan and had his gamekeepers stalk her and set their dogs loose on her. When she failed to return home, the young woman's parents went searching for her. The very next morning, they found her lifeless body in the woods. Today, a road bisects the wood where the girl was murdered and while walking along this road in the dead of night, many terrified witnesses report hearing a phantom hunting pack before seeing a spooky and misty shape appear from the trees. Many have claimed that they had seen the form of a young woman running from her own impending death.
Products available from Heritage Clay Tiles Ltd in East Sussex
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Products available from Heritage Clay Tiles Ltd in Suffolk
Clayhall Roof Tiles in Suffolk
Conservation Roof Tiles in Suffolk
Edwardian Roof Tiles in Suffolk
Victorian Roof Tiles in Suffolk
Georgian Roof Tiles in Suffolk
Handmade Clay Tiles in Suffolk
High Quality Roof Tiles in Suffolk
Traditional clay tiles in Suffolk
Traditional roof tiles in Suffolk
Further Information
If you would like to know more or are interested in a quote we would be happy to help. Phone us on 01634 471 344, email us at sales@heritagetiles.co.uk and we will be in touch as soon as possible.
