Leisure, South East

Challenge

The 1,600m² roof of this former Tudor “power house” was suffering from a leaking roof, a crumbling chimney and rotten roof timbers.The National Trust team sprang into action to protect the valuable and irreplaceable contents of the house as rainwater started dripping through the ceiling.

They embarked on a £5.4 million project to construct a brand new roof, which would mean replacing all 71,000 tiles, rebuilding chimney stacks, fixing battens and leadwork and installing new insulation. Having carried out small patch repairs in the past, this was the first major roof refurbishment since 1842.

Solution

Keymer handmade clay tiles were chosen to help return the roof of The Vyne to its former glory. Keymer Traditional Antique plain tiles were selected for their inherent character which will age beautifully over time.

Experienced in working on restoration projects, the Heritage Services team were on hand to offer their advice and support, working closely with the National Trust to ensure that the roofing products supplied met all the required regulations.

The Vyne roof is a complicated and vast structure featuring many elevations. A team of skilled roofers from Ken Biggs Contractors Ltd fitted the handmade tiles.

Result

At a number of special “Make a Tile” and “Tag a Tile” events held at The Vyne to aid fundraising, the Keymer team invited visitors to try clay tile-making for a small donation.

The Visitor Experience and Fundraising Manager at The Vyne commented,“Working with the team from Keymer was a lovely experience as they are as passionate about heritage as I am. When the team came to make tiles with our visitors, they put in a great amount of enthusiasm and energy, which really helped us with fundraising to make the project possible.”