The Coming of Slate

Rye roofs were clay tile roofs until the railway came to Rye in 1851.

Trains then carried slates from the Welsh quarries, where the slate was cut to standard sizes, to the large Rye goods station.

A new, cheap, lightweight, non-absorbent, frost-proof, long lasting material was now available and used as a cheaper alternative to clay tile.

The use of manufactured slate substitute materials should be avoided.