Refurbishment of Downside Abbey

 

Highly Commended at  Clay Roofing awards Best Ecclesiastical Roof

Clay Roof Tile: Dreadnought Country Brown Smooth faced Plain Tiles together with Gables, Eaves, Half Round Ridge, Third Round Ridge, Mono Ridge, Valleys of 40, 45 & 50 degrees

Architects:  Beech  Tyldesley

Main Contractor: T R Morgan (Wells) Ltd

Roofing Contractor: Roofing South West

 

 

 

Background

Downside Monastery is a fine Grade II * Listed Building constructed during the late 19th Century to designs by Dunn and Hansom. 

The monastery was constructed in the Mid Victorian era from Bath and Doulting limestone, both of which are local to the area.  The buildings were designed by Hanson & Dunn.

The Midland Railway had been extended down south to Bath, the line from Bath was named the Somerset and Dorset Railway and there was a station built in Stratton-on-the-fosse, a few hundred yards from the site.  The construction of the railway to the “doorstep” of the Abbey meant that building materials from further afield could be used, and Broseley Clay tiles from Shropshire were specified, and fixed on the Monastery building in the 1870’s

The project was to re-roof the Monastery building and to achieve a close match to the original Broseley tiles.  Dreadnought Country Brown Smoothfaced tiles were specified by the architects Beech Tyldesley after gaining approval from English Heritage.

 

 

 

 

 

Challenge

The main challenge was to replace the existing Broseley tiles laid in the 1870’s with a tile that matched as closely as possible.  Sufficient Broseley tiles were salvaged to be used on the inner roof elevations of the building.  New Dreadnought Country Brown Smoothfaced tiles were used on the outer elevations.  Mr Stuart Forsey, the clerk of works explained that the Broseley and Dreadnought tiles were virtually indistinguishable.

The roof needed to be upgraded with insulation to meet current Building Regulations.  To meet this requirement the roof was raised by approximately 100mm.  This meant that all ridge lines, secret gutters and valleys were raised to accommodate this change.

Result

Dreadnought Country Brown Smoothfaced tiles were specified as the replacement tile because they were a very close match to the original tiles in every respect. 

Mr Stuart Forsey, the clerk of works explained that the Broseley and Dreadnought tiles were virtually indistinguishable.

Dreadnought tiles are traditional single camber shape, and all the colours are natural; produced without any artificial spray on stain or pigment.