Slating in South-West England SPAB Regional Technical Advice Note Terry Hughes BSc (Hons), FIoR Dp Man Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings 37 Spital Square, London, E1 6DY 020 7377 1644
[email protected] www.spab.org.uk 1 Contents This advice note describes the production and use of slates in the counties of Cornwall, Devon and Somerset, and deals with the maintenance and repair of slate roofs and wall cladding. It considers regional details specific to the traditions of roofing and cladding in south-west England and explains, where appropriate, adaptations to incorporate modern requirements such as improved thermal performance. 1 Introduction ...................... 3 2 History ...................... 6 3 Characteristics ...................... 6 4 Winning and production of slates ...................... 9 5 Work in general ...................... 13 6 Recording and assessment ...................... 16 7 Repairs and reslating ...................... 18 8 Specification and detailing ...................... 26 9 Scantle slating ...................... 33 10 Rag slating ...................... 36 11 Patent slating ...................... 38 12 Wall cladding ...................... 40 13 Maintenance ...................... 40 14 Notes and references ...................... 41 15 Other advice ...................... 43 16 Glossary ...................... 45 2 1 Introduction Vernacular slate roofs are important elements in It is important that the details of roofs are the character of historic buildings and settlements recorded before the slating is stripped and that the in south-west England, and help give individual information obtained is used to derive appropriate buildings, towns and villages their sense of place. specifications for re-slating. Each surviving This is in part due to the materials themselves, with example is likely to contain valuable information their different colours, textures and sizes, but also about traditional craft techniques and local to the way in which they are laid and detailed.