SELF-BUILD CASE STUDIES Church Farm, Church Brampton, Northamptonshire Owner: David Lines Roofer: P.J.W. Rooflines of Northampton Architect: Damien Wright Architects at Church Brampton Clay roof tile manufacturer: Sandtoft Roof Tiles Clay Tiles Used: Over 20,000 Sandtoft Goxhill Brindle mix handmade tiles were used on the Church Farm site.

The Architectural brief stipulated a self-build project set in rural Northamptonshire near Althorpe Estate. The project was completed in August 2001.

Mr David Lines wanted to restore the roof to its original splendour but the age and types of clay tiles used were since long out of fashion.

A chance meeting with Sandtoft’s heritage manager, Alan Lines (no relation), at an Interbuild exhibition, breathed new life into the project.

As David Lines was leaving the show he happened to come across the Sandtoft stand (just ten minutes before the stand was about to be dismantled for the closing of the exhibition). David was impressed with the aesthetic qualities of the Goxhill Brindle handmade tile display, and felt it was exactly what he wanted to use with the mellow buff Northampton stone he had already decided on for the external aspects of Church Farm.

Over the coming months, Sandtoft’s heritage production manager, Nigel Dyer, liaised very closely with David over every detail of the roof design to ensure that the right tiles were designed and manufactured to complement the natural heritage of the roof.

In addition to the roof tiles, Sandtoft also offered to manufacture special angled valley tiles because of the complexity of the roof design and special hip tiles for the summerhouse at the bottom of the garden, which features a wine cellar.

The design rationale was to meet planning constraints both on the roof design and compatibility with ancient building. Tile specifications, fittings and fixings meant that special 55-degree valley tiles needed to be produced for the project because it was a highly exposed area with complex ventilation detail. The main challenge was to ensure that the roofing material blended with the natural surroundings, which prompted Sandtoft to create special valley tiles.

Sandtoft area manager, Mike Woodward, said the Church Farm project was one of the most interesting projects he had worked on. “It is one of the finest examples of natural stone buildings that complement natural clay tiles I have ever seen in the past 15 years,” said Mike.