Traditional clay tiles in Cambridgeshire
Traditional clay tiles
Traditional clay tiles are the best choice of roofing
Clay roof tiles have been used as roof coverings for a very long time. In fact, archaeologists have found evidence of clay roof tiles in China dating back as far as 10,000 BC. When the Romans landed in Britain during the first century AD, they brought the tradition of using clay roof tiles with them, and they used them to cover their villas, temples and bathhouses.
A disaster brings traditional clay tiles to the forefront of construction
Traditional clay tiles didn't really become popular until after the Great Fire of Southwark in 1212. Following the fire, King John made a proclamation, stating that buildings in London should be built with clay roof tiles, rather than thatched roofing, since they were more resistant to fire.
For most of their history, clay tiles have been made by hand in a rather laborious and time consuming process. These days, you can still get handcrafted tiles for that traditional finish, or choose from products that are made by machines for a faster result, more uniform appearance and a more affordable price.
Whether you opt for tiles that are handmade or made by a machine, the traditional clay roof tiles that are manufactured today also conform to modern building standards and can be used in dry-fix roofing systems, meaning they can be installed quickly and securely while providing the look that we all want for our properties.
Traditional clay tiles come in both plain clay tiles and profiled pantiles in a range of shapes and colours. This ensures you can easily find a product that suits your design requirements. These offer the classic good looks of traditional clay tiles, but with the benefits of modern manufacturing techniques and very easy installation.
Modern alternatives to Heritage Clay Tiles Ltd traditional clay tiles
Modern technology has opened up the market for new materials and innovations to be used in the manufacturing process, such as fibre cement.
In today's climate of recycling and sustainability, we have seen a clear trend moving towards building materials that can improve the sustainability and carbon efficiency of construction projects. With an ambitious government aim for net carbon zero by 2050 and all new homes to be zero-carbon ready by 2025, roofing manufacturers are looking at more ways in which their products can align to this vision.
When you consider that traditional clay tiles are made from natural and recyclable materials, it's easy to see why they still remain at a front runner in the roofing industry.
Traditional clay tiles or a modern alternative?
Realistically, it all boils down to your personal choice of roofing material. In fact, you can achieve a traditional or contemporary style while enjoying the benefits of advanced and modern materials, manufacturing techniques and installation options. That means you can base your decision on factors such as how the roof is designed, how durable it is, how it looks and your budget.
When considering the appearance of your roofing tile, remember to think about whether you want the building to stand out or blend in with its surroundings, and then take a look at your geographic location and what's in general use around you. Remember, being different isn't always a good look and could land you in hot water with the local authorities if you choose a roofing material that is too outlandish. You could also be forced to rectify any planning breaches at great personal expense. Traditional clay tiles are always a much safer option, always look great and are known to stand the test of time.
A little information about Cambridgeshire
Folk music for Cambridgeshire
The Cambridge Folk Festival is a highpoint for folk music enthusiasts from in and around the Cambridgeshire area. The festival is held every year, but first opened in 1965. This popular music event is held on the site of Cherry Hinton Hall in Cherry Hinton, one of the villages subsumed by the city of Cambridge. The festival is known for its fantastic mix of music and a pretty wide definition of what might be considered actual folk music. It occurs over a long Bank Holiday weekend in summer. Until 2008 it was sponsored by BBC Radio 2, who broadcast it live, with highlights that were recorded and shown later and occasionally live on digital television channels. BBC Four broadcast the Cambridgeshire event from 2002 to 2009 and from 2010 to 2012 the festival was moved to Sky Arts.
History of the Cambridgeshire music festival
Recent events have obscured the early origins of the Cambridge folk festival. In 1974 the Cambridge Folk Festival was described as an event that was born after three Cambridgeshire councillors who had an idea for a festival. The key figures responsible for setting up and founding the Cambridge Folk festival are named as Paul Rayment, Philip Abrams and George Scurfield.
The setting up of the Cambridgeshire musical event took about nine months and was developed by Paul Rayment, Philip Abrams and George Scurfield before Ken Woollard was asked to run the festival. In the 1960s the Rayments, Sharkeys, Scurfields and Woollards were all associated with Cambridge Labour Party and the folk club to greater or lesser extents. Jack Sharkey had the original idea which may have been linked to Jazz on a Summers Day, the documentary film set at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival in Rhode Island, and he involved Paul Rayment. Jack Sharkey also had the idea to hold the festival at Cherry Hinton Hall, and his engagement with folk music was instrumental to the original initiative.
It has been argued many times that Paul Rayments initiative, drive, commitment and political skill produced the Cambridgeshire folk festival. In his role as a councillor, he suggested the festival site of Cherry Hinton, managed the electrics of the first festival and volunteered to stay the night in the marquee for the first festival; there was no security. The other key figures who developed the festival were Philip Abrams, a professor of sociology who saw it as a social initiative, and George Scurfield, an author, poet, and politician, whose abilities and sense of adventure and were vital to the establishment of the festival. The 1965 festival was the fruit of a Labour controlled council in a traditionally conservative area and particularly the endeavours of Paul Rayment. The founding of the Cambridge Folk festival reflects its subsequent diversity when a war hero poet and politician worked with an eminent sociologist and a politically driven electrician to bring something together representative of the 1960s zeitgeist in Cambridge. This was then handed over and brought to fruition by Ken Woollard, a local firefighter and socialist political activist, to help organise it.
Big names at the Cambridgeshire festival
The first Cambridgeshire festival sold 1400 tickets and almost broke even. Squeezed in as a late addition to the bill was a young Paul Simon who had just released "I Am A Rock". The festivals popularity quickly grew from that moment on. Woollard continued as Festival organiser and artistic director up until his death in 1993. In 2014 the festival celebrated its 50th event, including artists such as Van Morrison and Sinead O'Connor. Until 2015 it was run by Cambridge City Council. It is now run by a charity called Cambridge Live.
Products available from Heritage Clay Tiles Ltd in East Sussex
Clay Roof Tiles in East Sussex
Clayhall Roof Tiles in East Sussex
Conservation Roof Tiles in East Sussex
Edwardian Roof Tiles in East Sussex
Victorian Roof Tiles in East Sussex
Georgian Roof Tiles in East Sussex
Handmade Clay Tiles in East Sussex
Handmade Roof Tiles in East Sussex
High Quality Roof Tiles in East Sussex
Traditional clay tiles in East Sussex
Traditional roof tiles in East Sussex
Products available from Heritage Clay Tiles Ltd in Essex
Conservation Roof Tiles in Essex
High Quality Roof Tiles in Essex
Traditional clay tiles in Essex
Traditional roof tiles in Essex
Products available from Heritage Clay Tiles Ltd in Hampshire
Clayhall Roof Tiles in Hampshire
Conservation Roof Tiles in Hampshire
Edwardian Roof Tiles in Hampshire
Victorian Roof Tiles in Hampshire
Georgian Roof Tiles in Hampshire
Handmade Clay Tiles in Hampshire
Handmade Roof Tiles in Hampshire
High Quality Roof Tiles in Hampshire
Traditional clay tiles in Hampshire
Traditional roof tiles in Hampshire
Products available from Heritage Clay Tiles Ltd in Hertfordshire
Clay Roof Tiles in Hertfordshire
Clayhall Roof Tiles in Hertfordshire
Conservation Roof Tiles in Hertfordshire
Edwardian Roof Tiles in Hertfordshire
Victorian Roof Tiles in Hertfordshire
Georgian Roof Tiles in Hertfordshire
Handmade Clay Tiles in Hertfordshire
Handmade Roof Tiles in Hertfordshire
High Quality Roof Tiles in Hertfordshire
Traditional clay tiles in Hertfordshire
Traditional roof tiles in Hertfordshire
Products available from Heritage Clay Tiles Ltd in Kent
Conservation Roof Tiles in Kent
High Quality Roof Tiles in Kent
Traditional clay tiles in Kent
Traditional roof tiles in Kent
Products available from Heritage Clay Tiles Ltd in London
Conservation Roof Tiles in London
Edwardian Roof Tiles in London
Victorian Roof Tiles in London
High Quality Roof Tiles in London
Traditional clay tiles in London
Traditional roof tiles in London
Products available from Heritage Clay Tiles Ltd in Surrey
Conservation Roof Tiles in Surrey
Edwardian Roof Tiles in Surrey
Victorian Roof Tiles in Surrey
High Quality Roof Tiles in Surrey
Traditional clay tiles in Surrey
Traditional roof tiles in Surrey
Products available from Heritage Clay Tiles Ltd in West Sussex
Clay Roof Tiles in West Sussex
Clayhall Roof Tiles in West Sussex
Conservation Roof Tiles in West Sussex
Edwardian Roof Tiles in West Sussex
Victorian Roof Tiles in West Sussex
Georgian Roof Tiles in West Sussex
Handmade Clay Tiles in West Sussex
Handmade Roof Tiles in West Sussex
High Quality Roof Tiles in West Sussex
Traditional clay tiles in West Sussex
Traditional roof tiles in West Sussex
Products available from Heritage Clay Tiles Ltd in Bedfordshire
Clay Roof Tiles in Bedfordshire
Clayhall Roof Tiles in Bedfordshire
Conservation Roof Tiles in Bedfordshire
Edwardian Roof Tiles in Bedfordshire
Victorian Roof Tiles in Bedfordshire
Georgian Roof Tiles in Bedfordshire
Handmade Clay Tiles in Bedfordshire
Handmade Roof Tiles in Bedfordshire
High Quality Roof Tiles in Bedfordshire
Traditional clay tiles in Bedfordshire
Traditional roof tiles in Bedfordshire
Products available from Heritage Clay Tiles Ltd in Buckinghamshire
Clay Roof Tiles in Buckinghamshire
Clayhall Roof Tiles in Buckinghamshire
Conservation Roof Tiles in Buckinghamshire
Edwardian Roof Tiles in Buckinghamshire
Victorian Roof Tiles in Buckinghamshire
Georgian Roof Tiles in Buckinghamshire
Handmade Clay Tiles in Buckinghamshire
Handmade Roof Tiles in Buckinghamshire
High Quality Roof Tiles in Buckinghamshire
Traditional clay tiles in Buckinghamshire
Traditional roof tiles in Buckinghamshire
Products available from Heritage Clay Tiles Ltd in Cambridgeshire
Clay Roof Tiles in Cambridgeshire
Clayhall Roof Tiles in Cambridgeshire
Conservation Roof Tiles in Cambridgeshire
Edwardian Roof Tiles in Cambridgeshire
Victorian Roof Tiles in Cambridgeshire
Georgian Roof Tiles in Cambridgeshire
Handmade Clay Tiles in Cambridgeshire
Handmade Roof Tiles in Cambridgeshire
High Quality Roof Tiles in Cambridgeshire
Traditional roof tiles in Cambridgeshire
Products available from Heritage Clay Tiles Ltd in Oxfordshire
Clay Roof Tiles in Oxfordshire
Clayhall Roof Tiles in Oxfordshire
Conservation Roof Tiles in Oxfordshire
Edwardian Roof Tiles in Oxfordshire
Victorian Roof Tiles in Oxfordshire
Georgian Roof Tiles in Oxfordshire
Handmade Clay Tiles in Oxfordshire
Handmade Roof Tiles in Oxfordshire
High Quality Roof Tiles in Oxfordshire
Traditional clay tiles in Oxfordshire
Traditional roof tiles in Oxfordshire
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
Handmade Roof 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.
