When the trustees of Leeds Castle, the ancient Norman stronghold in Kent, needed 35,000 handcrafted county peg roof tiles for the castle gatehouse, it made sense to turn to the oldest manufacturer of genuine handmade clay tiles in the country.
Keymer can trace its roots back as far as 1588. The tiles produced at its factory in Burgess Hill, West Sussex, are unique, as each is made in a traditional manner by hand by master craftsmen from Keymer’s own Wealden clay. The result is an individual, timeless product that becomes more impressive with age.
Keymer is a great match for a site as historic and prestigious as Leeds Castle (for a time home to Catharine of Aragon, the first wife of Henry VIII), and the firm proved an obvious choice to maintain a piece of history without compromising on modern roofing standards.
The county pegs were used in an extensive refurbishment of the Leeds Castle Gatehouse and were specifically chosen to match what had previously been there while complementing the castle and surrounding buildings.
Keymer peg tiles are better and more cost-effective than second-hand tiles, which can deteriorate quickly when reused. They are also eco-friendly: accredited to ISO:14001, the worldwide standard of environmental management, Keymer is committed to having a minimal impact on the environment.
The work at Leeds Castle was undertaken by Gary Lambert of Complete Roofing Contractors. He provided the delicate expertise required on a project that involved working with varying roof pitches and ageing timbers while ensuring an attractive finish befitting of such a regal building.
Much like Leeds Castle, Keymer tiles are traditional and timeless; with a history dating back to the 16th century, the company has ensured that Leeds Castle has kept its place in history.
