Regional Roof Tiles

I've been talking about roofs and tiles to various people recently, so I thought I would refresh and repost something Simon wrote in October 2008.

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Flat terracotta tiles in La Guerche.

Preuilly sur Claise is on or close to a number of borders. At the time our barn was built it was on the border between England and France. During the Second World War it was close to the border between Vichy and Occupied France. Now it is very close to the border between the départements (counties) of Indre, Indre et Loire, and Vienne.

It is also close to another less formal border - that of roof tiles.

In Preuilly we have flat tiles, known as tuiles plates. These tiles are traditionally made in terracotta (in French terre cuite) and are found in all places north and east of us. The tiles are hung by a little tag on horizontal battens, which you can see quite clearly in this photo of our roof under repair.

 Our barn roof being renewed with flat terracotta tiles.

However - travel only 25 kilometres toward Poitiers and you will see roofs of canal or mission tiles (tuiles canal). These are also made from terracotta, but are slung in vertical battens, with one tile on its "back", with another tile upturned over the top. This makes everything look very Roman, or mediterranean. These tiles are in St Germain de Confolens, in the Charente.

Of course, if you had a lot of money when you built your house, or subsequently came into money and wanted everyone to know about it, you have a slate roof. Like a lot of buildings in Preuilly, our barn has a slate roof facing the street, but a tiled roof where it doesn't show.

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