Aggregate Industries’ Building Products team has helped to restore the roof of a historic hall, in Rutland, to its former glory, after supplying 700m² of its Bradstone Cotswold roofing tiles to the project.
Located in the village of Langham, Ranksborough Hall is a large grand house that was built in 1893 for Lord Ranksborough, who was then equerry to Queen Victoria. These days, the hall and its surrounding 50 acres of parkland are home to many exclusive residential and holiday homes, as well as a sited touring park.
Aggregate Industries was brought on board by Rutland Roofing, appointed contractors on the job. The hall originally had Collyweston stone slate on the roof, which needed to be replaced, but the managers required a new product that would resemble a similar colour and effect. Aggregate Industries’ Bradstone Cotswold roofing tiles did just that. Having used the Bradstone Cotswold tiles previously when a small section of the roof was rebuilt, the client came back to Aggregate Industries.
In total, the project took around six months to complete as the roof was replaced in sections, with the tilers working their way around the roof. As a heritage building, built over a century ago, it naturally presented challenges to the team working on it. For Aggregate Industries, when measuring the roof, only parts could be accessed via the main house. Therefore, scaffolding had to be erected to complete the job. Also, with such a unique property, the roof was not a standard shape, meaning the team had to deal with lots of different and sometimes awkward angles.
Jeremy Lee, sales director for Aggregate Industries’ Building Products division, said: “Due to the heritage of this building, aesthetics were critical to ensure new tiles mimicked the existing ones. Bradstone Cotswold roofing slates were a logical choice due to their ready availability, excellent resemblance to the in-place natural stone slates, and high recycled material content.”
Viv Sweet, managing director at Rutland Roofing, commented: “This was an interesting, but challenging job. The nature and size of the roof at Ranksborough Hall meant we needed a roofing supplier who was flexible and Aggregate Industries was just that. They made our life easier by allowing us to order the tiles in phases, as and when we completed a section of the roof and moved on to the next. We look forward to working with them again in the future.”
Aggregate Industries’ Bradstone Cotswold roofing tiles are available in a range of sizes to be laid to a traditional diminishing course. They are a highly acceptable reconstructed stone alternative to natural stone slates. Supplied in a full, but rationalised range of diminishing lengths, and random widths, for an authentic appearance. Thanks to the ease of laying and availability, customers can reportedly benefit from a reduction in time and costs often associated with second-hand material.
