John-

Re: Pantiles

>C.F. Innocent - The Development of English Building Construction, Cambridge
University Press, 1916.

nn a discussion of terra cotta tile use which he dates to Roman period with
size statutes decreed in 1477 and use continuing into the Queen Ann period, he
continues:

" The waved tiles known as pantiles were a comparatively recent introduction
from the Continent. According to the Dictionary of Architectural Publicaton
Society, before the time of Daniel DeFoe they had been imported from the
Netherlands: he is said to have introduced their manufacture at Tilbury in
Essex, but his venture was not a financial success. An act of Parliament, of
the year 1722 (12 George I), specified that ' All pan-tiles made for sale in
any part of England, shall, when burnt, be not less than 13 1/2 inches long,
and not less than 9 1/2 inches wide, and not less than 1/2 inch thick.' They
continued to be imported until past the middle of the eighteenth century, but
pantiles of English manufacture succeeded them, and their use was becoming
general when William Marshall published his 'Rural Economy of Yorkshire' in
the year 1796. He noticed on his journey to Yorkshire that there was not one
roof of pantiles between London and Grantham, but ' north of Grantham they are
becoming the most universal covering,' and another topographer, in the year
1800, noticed that pantiles were taking the place of thatch in North
Yorkshire. In this age of revivals pantiles have recently come into use
again."

Amazingly, no mention of pantiles in Clifton-Taylors' Pattern of English
Building!
Hope this helps.

Mike Devonshire