Look what I found

[Bitstreams]

I had a joiner around today to quote for making new window sills in our dining room, amongst other things. After he'd gone I was tempted to remove the old warped wooden sill (I should have been removing concrete plaster from the walls but it's easy to get distracted). To my surprise I found these quarry tiles underneath. Unfortunately they don't go all the way back to the window and one is missing a corner (though I do have it).
Do you think they'll be original (house is 1830-40 I think)? Tempted to keep them and forget about wood, what do others think? and can you glue quarry tiles?

Simon

 

[worms]

It may not mean much, but they look identical to the ones in our house which was converted from a farm building in the 1940's.

 

[Jon Maine]

My gut feeling says it would be later than Victorian, however if its a stage of the development of the building and you like it that is an added bonus. Yes you can glue masonry and ceramic with a resin glue like araldite.

 

[Lime]

I probably agree with the 1940s date.
All I have ever seen have been put in with cement.
Perhaps if they used lime mortar I might say earlier.

 

[Bitstreams]

I did the other sill today which has thicker 'quarry' tiles, but without the curved front. I think they're called 'bullnosed' but I've not seen any on a web search this evening.
They remind me of the grey tiles we used to have on the window sills of my old school (which was red-brick Victorian Gothic).

The lady of the house has decided, democratically, that we've abandoned the idea of wood and will have tiles instead - probably more practical given the amount of condensation we get.

Simon

 

[Penners]

A number of our period homes have had quarry tile sills. It's pretty well impossible to date them, but early-to-mid 1900's is a fair bet.

I've laid quarry tiles on floor tile cement successfully. It's more adhesive than cement mortar.

 

[Penners]

The lady of the house has decided, democratically

Ah yes - democracy always works best with an electorate of one. :wink:

 

[middi]

A lot of quarry tiles use in kitchens and hallways (between the wars) were fitted used a 1;1 cement mix.

 

[Jon Maine]

I am almost certain I have found them laid on neat cement too