Handmade clay roof tiles
Pressed by hand, fired for 33 hours, and made in Kent since 1986.
England’s largest independent maker of handmade-only clay roof tiles
Tudor makes handmade clay roof tiles at its own factory in Lydd, Kent: plain and peg tiles, the fittings that finish them, and bespoke sizes for listed buildings. Every tile is pressed by hand, dried for six days and fired for 33 hours.
Our craftsmen use English clay, Kent sand and skills passed down over generations, and every product is tested to British and European standards. The result is a roof with the character of an old one and the guarantee of a new one. About Tudor.
Members of the Roof Tile Association and Ceramics UK.
Award-winning tiles and roofs
Handmade tiles and fittings for every part of the roof
Handmade plain tilesThe classic nibbed clay tile, 265 × 165 mm, with a deep double camber.
Kent peg tilesFlatter pegged clay tiles, 250 × 150 mm, made in the home of the Kent peg tile.
Ridge tilesFive ridge shapes and two vented ridges, about 310 mm long.
Hip and valley tilesBonnet, Kent, Sussex and eyebrow hips, and a universal valley tile.
Ornamental tilesClub, fishtail, bullnose and four more shaped tails for decorative bands.
Plain tile fittingsEave and top tiles, gable tiles, and external and internal angles.
Oast house tilesWide and narrow tapered peg tiles for oast roofs, turrets and cones.
Roof ventilationThe invisible Under-Tile vent, the low-profile In-Tile vent and vented ridges.
Bat access tilesA tunnel tile and ridge access that let bats back into the roof.
Creasing tilesThin, strong clay tiles for wall caps, copings, chimneys and drip sills.
Thirteen colours, from Sussex Red to English Dark Oak
Medium AntiqueEarth brown
Dark AntiqueWarm black
Red AntiqueMid red
JubileeWeathered brown and black
Weathered EarthDark chocolate
Sussex RedOrange
Sussex BrownLighter brown
Rustic RedRed orange
Russet BrownMellow brown
Natural ClayBrown orange
English OakWarm brown, for seamless repairs- English Dark OakDeep brown, like 18th-century pegs
English Oak BlendA mix of warm, earthy tones
Where to start
- Restoring a listed or historic buildingLike-for-like sizes, matched colours and samples for your conservation officer.
- Specifying tiles for a projectTechnical sheets, test certificates, fixing guides and specification help.
- Roofing, or supplying roofersGauges, laps, coverage and weights, plus trade accounts for merchants.
- Choosing tiles for your homeCompare 13 colours, then order samples to see them in daylight.
How a Tudor tile is made
Ready-processed clay
Etruria Marl clay arrives processed and quality checked. From here, the work is all by hand.
Sand in the mould
Kent sand is thrown into the mould. It becomes the face, colour and texture of the tile.
Pressed
The clay is pressed into every corner of the mould.
Six days in the racks
Trays go into racks for at least six days, until 99.8% of the moisture has gone.
Into the kiln
Tiles are fired to about 1080°C, a firing that takes 33 hours.
Sorted by eye
When cool, every tile is sorted for quality and colour.
Bespoke sizes for old buildings and new ones
Old roofs rarely match a modern standard size, so we make like-for-like peg and plain tiles, usually within 4–6 weeks. New buildings get shapes no one else has: for King’s College School in Wimbledon we made six bespoke designs, including arrowhead tiles 400 mm long, and more than 90,000 tiles and specials in all.
Roofs we’re proud of
- 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
From the journal
- A Legacy in Every TileAt Tudor Roof Tiles, the soul of our handmade products lies not only in the clay and kilns but in the hands and eyes…
- New for 2025 - English Oak Blend & English Dark Oak Blend —Made in England using traditional techniques and Etruria Marl clay, this collection was specifically developed to meet…
- Jo Mills takes up Specifications & Business Development role atWhen it comes to handmade clay roof tiles, few people have the knowledge, experience, and passion that Jo brings to…
Questions about handmade clay roof tiles
Are Tudor roof tiles really handmade?
Yes. Every tile is pressed into a sanded mould by hand at our factory in Lydd, Kent, and fittings are cut individually from the lump. Nothing is machine-pressed.
Where are Tudor tiles made?
At our freehold factory on Dengemarsh Road, Lydd, on Romney Marsh in Kent, where we have been since 1992. Visits are welcome by appointment.
Can I buy Tudor tiles direct?
Tudor tiles are usually supplied through roofing and builders merchants, but we sell bespoke orders and 2nd grade tiles direct from the factory.
How long do bespoke tiles take?
Most bespoke tiles and fittings are ready 4–6 weeks from order.
See the tiles before you choose
We deliver samples by hand wherever we can, and you are welcome at the factory in Lydd by appointment.