For the construction of two boarding houses at St Bede’s School in Arlington, Sussex, architects CH Design Partnership of Winchester understood that it was imperative for any new build on the school site to reflect both the look of existing school buildings as well as local village houses.
After consultation with local planning authorities, genuine handmade clay tiles from Keymer Tiles were specified for their compatibility in character with the original tiles and also to achieve an exact colour match so as not to stand out against the other older roofs.
Chosen for their expertise in using traditional materials, Richard Soan Roofing Services of Lewes, Sussex were contracted to install the handmade tiles in the time-honoured way to produce their unique appearance.
A total of 85,000 Shire tiles were supplied by Keymer, the UK’s oldest established maker of handmade clay tiles, in a mixture of three colours – 30% Heritage, 30% Priory and 40% Downs Red for the roofs and verticals, along with their Elizabethan club tiles which were affixed in decorative bands to great ornamental effect.
Made from Wealden clay from their own Sussex clay pits, Keymer’s handmade tiles will mellow and weather over time.
Keymer products are manufactured under a Quality System approved by BSI certificate no. Q05516 and complying with EN ISO 9002 with raw materials being sustainably sourced and offering a low carbon footprint, to ensure all tiles meet with the company’s demanding quality levels.
