This week, two members of the MAA team are attending the West Dean course on clay tile roofing.

Set in the stunning countryside of West Sussex, the School of Conservation is offering a course, run by Richard Jordan, that covers the history of traditional hand and machine-made plain tiles, pantiles and other forms of fired material used for roofing, but mainly concentrates on their conservation and repair.

Ellen and Phil will be developing their understanding of how roofs work and the various different types of materials that can be used, including regional variations and methods of construction.

They’ll take part in practical demonstrations and hands-on work; preparing tiles, pantiles and mortar and looking at the setting out and recording of ridges, valleys and eaves. Their learning will also be enhanced by practical sessions on surveying old roofs, traditional detailing, writing specifications and finding sources of information.

The week culminates with the students tiling their own roof rig using modern and hand-made plain tiles, recording their roofs and presenting their findings to the group.