Well Court, Dean Village, Edinburgh

Client: Edinburgh World Heritage
Type of works: supply of Sandtoft's Goxhill clay plain tiles for the re-roofing of a Category A listed building.

Sandtoft’s Goxhill handmade clay plain tiles have been selected for the re-roofing of Well Court, a Category A listed building located next to the Water of Leith in Dean Village, Edinburgh. The re-roofing project forms part of a wider £1.1m refurbishment project, which Edinburgh World Heritage (EWH) has undertaken in collaboration with the owners of the 54 apartments and office within the property.

Well Court dates back to the 1880s, when it was commissioned by philanthropist and owner of the Scotsman newspaper, Sir John Ritchie Findlay, as housing for local workers. The property, which was designed by architect Sydney Mitchell, is considered to be one of Edinburgh’s hidden architectural gems.

In order to restore the property back to its original state, repairs were required to the original stonework, windows, clock tower and communal areas, as well as to the roof. To ensure an authentic finish, architect Bob Heath, who specified the roof tiles, turned to Sandtoft’s Heritage Service, a specialist conservation and restoration service, to deliver bespoke bonnet hips for the roof of this unique building.

Bob Heath commented: “As Well Court is a listed building, it was essential that we found a tile that matched the original roof covering, which was well over 100 years old. We specified the Goxhill in the Dark Red and Autumn Brown colours and the variation in colours was really appealing as it instantly aged the roof. The tiles weathered beautifully in a very short period of time and the rawness of the tiles was gone almost instantly. We had got samples from a number of companies that specialise in hand made tiles, as well as various examples of machine made tiles, but the Goxhill proved the best for us.”

Commenting on the restoration project, Sandtoft’s Sales and Marketing Director, Nick Oldridge added: “The Goxhill delivers a rich textured appearance and, as it is handmade using traditional methods, each and every tile is slightly different, which ensures a unique finish. It’s the best tile for any customer who is hoping to produce an aged appearance on a period property as was the case with Well Court.”

The Goxhill tile is made from colour permanent natural clay ensuring a highly aesthetic roof that is guaranteed for 60 years. It is available in four different colours, including Dark Red, Dark Chestnut, Light Red and Autumn Red.