Builders appearing in a new TV series that aims to find out if they
can reconstruct a Roman villa using only tools and materials from AD
20, have received a helping hand from Sandtoft Roof Tiles.
Starting on 20th January 2011 on Channel 4, 'Rome Wasn't Built in a
Day' brings 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 has 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 have since been handmade
at Sandtoft's Broomfleet factory and will appear on 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 will highlight 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 will be open to the public from 19th
February 2011.
The site for the construction was chosen after close consultation
with English Heritage and filming took place in the early summer of
2010 after planning approval was granted. The villa was built on top
of a protective platform above the ground to prevent the underlying
archaeology of the area being disturbed.
Sandtoft's heritage team provides a specialist conservation and
restoration service, including bespoke handmade clay roof tiles and
fittings. The craftsmen draw on generations of experience, blending
their expertise with 21st century design tools to reproduce historic
roofing products.
Great emphasis is placed on retaining traditional skills and
methods, resulting in tiles and fittings that not only match
Sandtoft's exacting standards, but those of conservation bodies and
local planners.
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