Case Study — Bay Horse Pub, Moulsham Street, Chelmsford
Product: Stoneleaf Danbury Handmade Plain Tiles
Client / Contractor: SJ Webb & co Ltd
Scope: Exterior renovation; roof stripped and re-laid as part of conversion to flats and reinstatement of pub frontage
The Bay Horse on Moulsham Street is a remarkable little survivor, a Grade II listed tavern set in one of Chelmsford’s oldest streets, where medieval and Tudor building lines still shape the townscape. The building’s historic character and the conservation-area setting on Moulsham Street meant any external works had to be sympathetic to traditional materials and vernacular detailing.
For the roof replacement, SJ Webb stripped the existing covering and re-laid the roof using the Stoneleaf Danbury Handmade Plain Tile. The Danbury tile was chosen because it closely matches the handmade profile, texture and blended mixes appropriate for a conservation setting, giving a traditional appearance while meeting modern performance expectations. The extensive use of Danbury tile in sensitive restorations approved by Chelmsford’s Conservation Officer confirms its suitability for historic roofs.
Because the Bay Horse sits inside a conservation area and is a listed building, the project team worked with the conservation office to gain formal approval for the new roof covering. That approval was granted for the Danbury plain tile, allowing the contractor to proceed with the sensitive re-roofing and enabling the wider scheme (reinstating the pub frontage and creating flats above) to move forward. Local press and planning notices covering the redevelopment of the Bay Horse site outline the intended reuse and residential conversion that accompany the façade and roof works.
The Bay Horse project is a good example of how carefully chosen traditional materials, combined with experienced contractors and early engagement with conservation officers, can allow historic buildings to adapt for contemporary use without losing the texture and identity that make streets like Moulsham Street special.
Find out more about the Stoneleaf Danbury Handmade Clay Plain Tiles on our product webpage here: https://www.stoneleaftiles.co.uk/roof-tiles/plain-roof-tiles/danbury-handmade-clay-tiles/
Or contact our sales team to enquire about using the Danbury tiles on your next project: Contact The Team
