Main door exterior steps/landing - Georgian

[atlasfever]

Hi Folks,

Since there seems to be a fabulous mind for every question, here's a new one:

Once again, am getting freeholder to re-instate/upgrade the georgian building. Keeping conservation ideas in mind (and that there are a lot of cheap 90s crappy finishes all over the building), I'm trying to get back to a reasonable state.

Regarding the front steps/front landing in front of the main door to the building, there is currently a cheap tile (cheap as in crap). So, I took photos of the front steps/landing of the properties on the street and I have attached the images. Most of the properties have either a small black/white checker pattern (fitted so the tiles are placed on a 45degree turn (not sure how to articulate this, please see photo). Then, some of the landings have a lovely multi-colour tiling. I'm guessing the best I could negotiate is the black/white tile on diagonal, which looks good anyway. Suggestions? And, anything key I have to 'remind' the builders to avoid the tiles from cracking?

Thanks!

 

[Feltwell]

I have attached the images.

Oh no you haven't!

I take it you mean encaustic tiles? Craven Dunnill are a great resource for these, based at the Jackfield tile museum near Ironbridge.

http://www.cravendunnill-jackfield.co.uk/

Or, for a firm "in the smoke":-

http://www.londonmosaic.com/

I always associate these type of tiles with Victorian properties rather than Georgian ones though - but then again didn't you say that your building was "done up" in Victorian/Edwardian times?

 

[atlasfever]

Photos...

 

[atlasfever]

Photos, more

 

[atlasfever]

Hi, well, I didn't realize this is a predominantly victorian concept. I just clicked on your link for the london one and they themselves describe (and show) tiles that look a lot like some of the ones I photographed, and they labelled them as victorian tiles.

Hmm, ok, I'll start googling 'georgian tiles,' as I had thought that it just turned up the black and white tiles in the front foyers.

Cheers

 

[atlasfever]

http://www.londonmosaic.com/georgian-tiles.htm

Actually, here is the site's reference to Georgian tiles. Interesting.

 

[Feltwell]

Quite likely just my ignorance of Georgian properties - I don't know much about that era at all, the Victorian era is more my thing.

Certainly tiles of the type you show were extremely popular in Victorian times and were mass produced in a way that I don't believe had been done before - which doesn't mean that they weren't produced before, but in smaller volumes in a less mechanised way.

Someone will be along shortly who has more knowledge of Georgian properties I'm sure!

Jackfield tile museum is well worth a visit if you're ever up this way.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

http://www.londonmosaic.com/georgian-tiles.htm

Actually, here is the site's reference to Georgian tiles. Interesting.

But the illustration and description are certainly Victorian, rather than Georgian. As are all the examples in your photos - which is why, although I assume these are different properties in one or two terraces, they aren't all the same.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Can't claim to be an expert on the history of tiles, but I'd agree that the lovely ones in your photos are either Victorian or modern reproduction. They're so smart, I'd say the latter. There's a wonderful company in Crouch End, and I'd guess elsewhere in London.

I'd expect exterior Georgian paving to be flagstones, like the ones in Highgate. Gravel paths were very popular too, and I'm sure my house had these up to the door, as I dig up so much of the stuff. Interior floors were stone cut in geometrical pattern - diamond slabs, with small black squares, is typical. Or polished wood with carpet, or pammemts in rustic situations.

Delft tiles would also be appropriate in interiors, but I doubt they'd put them on the floor.

You also see examples of shell work and knucklebone in ornamental flooring.