SPAB: SLATING IN

SOUTH WEST ENGLAND

 

Contents

1 Introduction

2 History

3 Characteristics

4 Winning and

production of slates

5 Work in general

6 Recording and

assessment

7 Repairs and re-slating

8 Specification and

detailing

9 Scantle slating

10 Rag slating

11 Patent slating

12 Wall cladding

13 Maintenance

14 Notes and references

15 Other advice

16 Glossary

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Blue slates at the quarry, 3s. 6d. per thousand; for the ordinary rough undressed slates, great and small; running from 4 to 12 inches wide and 8 to 18 inches long, when dressed. The large eaves slates – provincially “rags” – some of them two feet square, when dressed, are sold at 2s. 6d. a dozen; rough at the quarry.

The price of dressing, or cutting slates into the required form, is 20d a thousand.

Marshall, W. , The rural economy of the West of England including Devonshire and parts of Somersetshire, Dorsetshire and Cornwall. Nicol, London, 1796, vol 1.

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.


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