Understanding and valuing medieval floor tiles
Abstract
Between 700 and 900 years ago in the middle to late medieval period, tiles designed to be used for both decorative and utility purposes as a surface on which to walk were made in their many thousands at various sites in England. Unsurprisingly many are long gone, but more surprising is that a great many remain in parish churches and manorial homes, where they found their way following Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries and the redistribution of church wealth. This paper discusses these tiles as well as those remaining in our great cathedrals. The paper will help those whose interests include historic material to recognise the intrinsic value of these tiles and reasons for preserving them, and to understand how they were made, how they were used and how to care for them. This article is also included in The Business & Management Collection which can be accessed at https://hstalks.com/business/.
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Author's Biography
Lesley Durbin Emeritus Icon, is the author of ‘Architectural Tiles Conservation and Restoration’, 2nd edition (Routledge 2015), the only standard industry text on conservation and restoration of tiles, recommended by Historic England as the go-to reference for tile conservation and restoration. Lesley began working in tile conservation in 1983 and is Senior Conservator in the Jackfield Conservation Studio. She has worked in the conservation of architectural ceramics for over 40 years, holds Emeritus status of the Institute for Conservation and has acted as a reviewer for the Getty Institute in Los Angeles. Lesley has regularly lectured on tile conservation throughout her career to a wide variety of audiences. She is one of the foremost authorities on the subject. Furthermore, Lesley has taken up the post of Conservation Adviser to the Tiles and Architectural Ceramics Society.
Citation
Durbin, Lesley (2025, December 1). Understanding and valuing medieval floor tiles. In the Journal of Building Survey, Appraisal & Valuation, Volume 14, Issue 3. https://doi.org/10.69554/AEED8132.
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