Handmade clay roof tiles used to refurbish heritage housing

When Ogden Close, a historic estate in Liverpool, required a complete re-roofing, housing provider Haig Housing faced a significant challenge. The roof refurbishment would need to maintain the character of the heritage building, while also upgrading roofing performance to modern standards.

Following the appointment of Dabinett Chartered Surveyors to undertake feasibility studies and develop the re-roofing strategy for Ogden Close, Marley worked alongside Dabinett and roofing contractor Form + Build to deliver a complete roof system that supported compliance with modern efficiency standards while maintaining the building’s historic character.

The roofing system used Canterbury handmade clay plain tiles in the Loxleigh colourway. These were chosen for their natural variation, which helped to create a traditional aesthetic on the heritage estate. The Marley complete roofing system also included ridge and hip tiles, valley systems and JB Red battens.

Re-roofing a large-scale heritage property

Ogden Close is a large building that comprises 20 homes arranged in a U-shape. It was built in 1929 following a pledge made by Prime Minister David Lloyd George to build half a million “homes fit for heroes” in just three years. These homes were constructed to ensure that war veterans and their families had suitable accommodation following the first world war. Although only around 213,000 homes were built, the project led to the rise of modern council housing.

Today, Ogden Close is managed by Haig Housing, which provides housing for ex-service personnel and their families. All residents have a connection to the Army, Navy, Air Force or Royal Marines, making the development a unique example of specialist housing provision that combines strong community values with thoughtful design.

The existing roof was the original, installed nearly 100 years ago. After almost a century of weathering and wear, there were missing and damaged tiles, cracked mortar beddings and plant and moss growth. The building was experiencing leaks and damp. It also lacked adequate roof insulation, making it difficult and expensive to heat in the winter.

Specifics

Products

Marley Canterbury - Loxleigh

Sector

Heritage

Location

North - Liverpool

Surveyor

Dabinett Chartered Surveyors

Contractors

Form + Build

Marley clay tiles installed on historic roof in Liverpool

It was determined that the underlying roof structure was still in good condition, but that a complete re-roofing would be necessary. This also provided an opportunity to install roof insulation and ensure adequate ventilation in the roof space.

Dabinett carried out detailed roof inspections using drone surveys and high-level access equipment to assess the condition of the roof coverings and supporting structure.

As the estate is located within a conservation area containing heritage assets, Dabinett also engaged with the local authority conservation team to identify suitable replacement materials that would satisfy heritage planning requirements while delivering long-term performance improvements. Dabinett specified Marley Canterbury handmade clay plain tiles due to their close visual similarity to the original small-format rosemary tiles and their suitability for use within the conservation setting.

Josh Dyson of Dabinett Chartered Surveyors said: “A key priority throughout the project was balancing heritage requirements with the need to improve long-term performance for residents. Early engagement with the conservation team was essential in identifying a roofing solution that respected the historic character of Ogden Close while achieving a modern, compliant roof system.”

Heritage re-roofing for a historic housing estate

Because Ogden Close is a heritage property, re-roofing required close coordination among the surveyors, conservation officers, contractor and Marley to ensure the building's appearance remained faithful to its original architecture.

Dabinett prepared the detailed specification and tender documentation for the re-roofing works, managed the competitive tender process and recommended the appointment of Form + Build as principal contractor.

The extensive refurbishment required thousands of Canterbury handmade tiles. Marley also provided the Ridge Fast system to ensure a secure and ventilated roof ridge. Our handmade fittings and specialist tiles, including granny bonnet hip tiles and valley tiles, were also used to maintain the building’s traditional appearance and satisfy conservation requirements.

Paul Mahon, managing director at Form + Build, explains: “Every tile on there is individually handmade because of the conservation requirements. Nothing came out of a machine on this project – it was all handmade.”

The handmade nature of the tiles was essential to achieving the authentic aged appearance demanded by the heritage setting. Marley’s Canterbury handmade clay plain tiles are traditionally manufactured to provide subtle tonal variation, irregularities and texture that closely replicate historic handmade roofing materials. All tiles, including ridge and hip tiles, were mechanically fixed to ensure compliance with BS 5534:2014+A2:2018, the Code of Practice for slating and tiling. “The granny bonnet hip tiles were also mortar-bedded to give a more traditional appearance,” Paul adds.

Installing a full Marley roof system during winter conditions

Re-roofing Ogden Close took around six months. Work began in October 2025 and was completed the following April. This was a difficult time of year to work, Paul notes: “We had four named storms during that period and some fairly extreme weather events.”

The expansive roof area made tiling a time-consuming project, and using small-format tiles meant the project required a significantly higher tile count than a standard plain-tile installation – approximately 65 tiles per square metre. In addition, the building's steep roof pitch increased installation complexity.

Despite the challenging conditions, all 20 homes remained occupied throughout the works. Fully scaffolded access and carefully phased installation helped minimise disruption to residents during the winter months, including over Christmas and New Year. Throughout the works, Dabinett surveyors monitored quality to help ensure successful delivery of the project.

“We got it done with fairly minimal impact to the residents, which was good,” says Paul. “Haig Housing has reported that they’re very happy with how the roof tiles look, as well as the improved weather-tightness of the homes and comfort for residents."

Using handmade clay roof tiles on a conservation project

The Canterbury handmade clay tiles were chosen for this project to meet conservation expectations. Paul says that this was his first time using a handmade tile. “The irregularities of the handmade clay tiles made them a little more difficult to work with than machine-made tiles, but when you stand back and look at the finished roof, it was worth the extra effort,” he says.

He notes that, due to the building’s geometry, the small format of the tiles and the variation in the handmade tiles, estimating accurate quantities was particularly challenging. However, the Marley team worked quickly to help overcome these challenges. “Marley was helpful when we reached out for additional tiles. Our rep, Lydia, provided us with what we required. Her support was very good,” he adds.

Paul also highlights Marley’s involvement in maintaining specification compliance throughout the project: “Marley came to site a couple of times to observe the installation and make sure that the specification was being adhered to.”

Upgrading heritage homes with new roofing

The re-roofing of Ogden Close demonstrates how heritage-sensitive roofing can preserve historic character while improving long-term building performance.

Using Marley’s Canterbury handmade clay plain tile system enabled Form + Build to re-create the traditional appearance, while incorporating modern roofing techniques, upgraded insulation and compliant roof ventilation.

The project also carried deeper significance because of the building’s role in supporting veterans and their families.

Paul said, “We’re really proud of this project. We’re proud to have worked for an association that does the sort of work Haig Housing does. We’re also extremely impressed with how the Canterbury roof tile looks and the finish we achieved.”

To find out more about using Marley handmade clay roof tiles for heritage roofing, or any other roofing project, please download our brochure or get in touch with a member of our team.

Marley Canterbury handmade tiles installed on a re roof scheme

Request a tile sample

Sample basket

Handmade clay tiles used to refurbish heritage housing

Canterbury Clay Plain | Loxleigh