April 2011
Builders appearing in a Channel 4 series that aimed to find out if they can reconstruct a Roman villa using only tools and materials from AD 20, received a helping hand from Sandtoft Roof Tiles. From 20th January 2011 ‘Rome Wasn't Built in a Day’ brought together six craftsmen to experience what it would have been like to build a Roman villa in ancient times, using only the most basic tools, materials and construction methods.
Sandtoft's specialist heritage team provided expert advice and training to the craftsmen, including how to make the traditional Tegula and Imbrex clay roof tiles by hand. A total of 1474 Tegula tiles and 1206 Imbrex tiles in Natural Red were handmade at Sandtoft’s Broomfleet factory for the ‘Villa Urbana’ – a high status Roman town house. Nigel Dyer, Sandtoft’s Heritage Manager said: “It’s been great to share our heritage expertise with the construction experts involved in this project. We hope that the programme highlights the technical skill required to make these traditional tiles, including the trimming of the edges, which is done using a taught wire of a small bow.”
The villa has been built in Wroxeter, Shropshire, the fourth largest Roman city in Britain and will mark the 1600th anniversary of the Romans leaving Britain. It opened to the public on 19th February 2011.
Sandtoft’s heritage team provides a specialist conservation and restoration service, including bespoke handmade clay roof tiles and fittings.