> Source: https://www.tudorrooftiles.co.uk/about/

# About Tudor Roof Tiles

Tudor Roof Tiles is the largest independent maker of handmade-only clay roof tiles in England. The company began in Ashford, Kent, in 1986 and moved to its freehold factory at Lydd on Romney Marsh in 1992, where every tile is still made by hand.

## Who we are

We specialise in plain, peg, oast and creasing tiles, bat access and ventilation, for new buildings and for conservation, preservation and restoration work. The range covers plain tiles, eaves, gables, hips, valleys, plain and vented ridges, ornamentals, external and internal angles, Kent peg tiles, and tapered tiles for oast houses and turrets.

All our tiles are hand moulded and fittings are cut individually from the lump. Sand on the face gives each tile its colour, and specially developed firing gives every tile its character. We have exported to continental Europe, North America and the Far East.

## Reasons people choose Tudor Roof Tiles

- **Made in England.** English clay, local sand and traditional handmaking skills, from Lydd, the home of the Kent peg tile, with UK consumer protection and local after-sales support.
- **Value, not price.** We sell on the look, performance and long life of our tiles, not on being cheapest.
- **Individuality.** Every tile varies in tone, camber and texture, so every roof is unique.
- **Sustainability.** An energy-efficient kiln, 97% of waste recycled, and tiles made in Kent rather than shipped from abroad. [More about sustainability](https://www.tudorrooftiles.co.uk/sustainability/).
- **Award-winning.** Our products, and the projects they are on, have won self-build, architectural and roofing industry awards, including the Build It Award for best roofing product in 2014 and 2018.

## In the footsteps of England’s great designers

Peg tiles go back to the 12th and 13th centuries, when every English town and village had its own brick and tile maker. In 1477 a Royal Charter of King Edward IV set the size of English clay tiles at 10½ × 6¼ in.

Handmade English tiles were used by the greatest English architects and designers. William Morris, founder of the Arts and Crafts movement, had them on his own home, the [Red House](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_House,_Bexleyheath), and Sir Edwin Lutyens, CFA Voysey and MH Baillie Scott preferred tile to slate. We still make tiles the way they knew them.

## The people behind the tiles

### Tomasz Solnica

Managing Director

Joined Tudor in 2021 after a career in the building industry, working with merchants, contractors and developers.

### Jo Mills

Specifications and Business Development Manager

More than 25 years in clay roof tiles. Jo helps architects, conservation officers, merchants and contractors choose and match tiles. Call the office and ask for Jo.

### Will

Factory Production Manager

At Tudor since April 1991. Will has worked in every department, from clay preparation to colour blending and firing.

> I am delighted to have joined Tudor Roof Tiles, a company which is highly respected not only for the quality of its products, but for its customer focussed ‘family’ values, which align very closely to my own.Tomasz Solnica, Managing Director

## Roofs we have worked on

- King’s College School music school, Wimbledon, for Hopkins Architects
- The restoration of the Royal Horticultural Society’s building at Wisley
- The Inigo Jones Theatre at the new Globe, Southwark
- The main roof of the Church of St Mary in Castro, Dover Castle
- Supermarkets for Sainsbury’s and Waitrose
- National Trust and English Heritage properties

[See photos of Tudor roofs](https://www.tudorrooftiles.co.uk/roof-projects/).

## Where to go next

- [How handmade roof tiles are madeClay, sand, a mould and two hands: the 15 steps of a Tudor tile.](https://www.tudorrooftiles.co.uk/how-handmade-tiles-are-made/)

- [Sustainable clay roof tilesA+ rated for low impact, made locally, 97% of waste recycled.](https://www.tudorrooftiles.co.uk/sustainability/)

- [Clay tile roof projectsAward-winning schools, castle churches, houses, barns and oasts.](https://www.tudorrooftiles.co.uk/roof-projects/)

- [Contact Tudor Roof TilesCall, email or visit the factory in Lydd.](https://www.tudorrooftiles.co.uk/contact/)