The Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers is one of the historic Livery Companies of the City of London and is unusual, if not unique, in being involved with three distinct crafts - Bricklaying, Roof Slating and Tiling, and Wall and Floor Tiling - for which we present awards today.
The Company can trace its history from as early as 1416 and at that time and during the subsequent 250 years, it exercised almost total control over the three crafts within the London area. Liverymen were responsible for training the future generation of craftsmen through an apprenticeship system and it presided over disputes within the trades, monitored levels of craftsmanship and enjoyed draconian powers over members of the Livery who fell short of the required standard. It was, simultaneously, a cartel, an employers’ confederation, a trade union, a trading standards authority and, through the fraternity which existed between its members, a source of welfare and support to those who fell on hard times and to their families. Over the succeeding centuries the Company’s powers diminished with a substantial loss of influence following the relaxation of the craft monopolies which had to be sanctioned following the Great Fire of London in 1666.
A significant part of the Company’s role today is in the fostering of the crafts it represents within the construction industry through the giving of awards and prizes. In this way the Company seeks to encourage the development of these crafts and the training of aspiring craftsmen and craftswomen, giving recognition to individuals at the outset of their careers and ultimately conferring Master Craftsman status on those who can demonstrate the very highest standard of craftsmanship over a range of work.
Following a turbulent couple of years, we are pleased to see that things are getting back to normal, or the “new normal” as some might say, and the WorldSkills UK Finals took place in November 2022 following their traditional format. This event, which precedes our awards, provides us with the Craft Award Winners in our 3 trade categories and we recognise the skills of these young crafts people here today.
The Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers has a long serving bond with the Corps of Royal Engineers and make annual awards to outstanding Class 1 and Class 2 construction trainees from the Royal School of Military Engineering in Chatham.
We present two further awards annually, known as The Cadet Force Awards, to the best London based Army Cadet and Adult Volunteer Instructor.
From time to time, and as the strict criteria are met, we confer the status of Master Craftsman on individuals from our 3 different crafts. Each winner will have demonstrated his or her mastery of their specialised craft and their ability to pass on the specialist skills through mentoring. They are, truly, craftsmen of the highest order, and we recognise these individuals at our Annual Craft Awards here today.
Finally, the Company’s gratitude is expressed to all those who assisted with the arrangements, assessment, and presentation of the 2023 Craft Awards in these difficult times and welcome our Principal Guest Lieutenant Colonel Guy Cheesman CEng MInstRE
The Stokes Royal Engineers Awards, Class 1 2023
The Stokes Royal Engineers Awards, Class 2 2023
Cadet Force Awards, Best Cadet 2023
Cadet Force Awards, Best Adult Volunteer 2023
The E & R Fuller Award for Bricklaying 2023
The Mason-Elliott Award for Roof Slating and Tiling 2023
The Montgomery Award for Wall and Floor Tiling 2023
Recognition of Master Craftsman – Roof Slater and Tiler
Special Recognition Award – Roof Slating and Tiling, Services to Education and Industry
Special Recognition Award – Wall and Floor Tiling, Services to Education and Industry
The 1 Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment was formed in 1812 and since its creation the Regiment has undergone many changes. It has served as a school, a depot regiment, a training regiment and a specialist equipment regiment. It has provided highly trained soldiers to the Corps of Royal Engineers, for deployment across the globe for over 200 years. Presently it trains our Royal Engineer soldiers in construction, engineering, and watermanship. The school normally provides the third and final phase of a Sapper’s training package before they are posted to their first Field Army operational unit.
The name “Sapper” is derived from the French word sappe meaning “spadework,” or “trench” and became connected with military engineering during the 17th century, when attackers dug covered trenches to approach the walls of a besieged fort. They also tunnelled under those walls and then collapsed the tunnels, thus undermining the walls. These trenches and tunnels were called “saps,” and their diggers came to be called “sappers.” In modern armies, sappers serve three functions. They provide tactical support on the battlefield by installing portable bridges, tank traps, and other construction; they build major support facilities, such as airports, supply roads, fuel depots, and barracks; and they are assigned additional tasks, including the construction of schools and other facilities, throughout the world.
On completion of their training, Sappers will be able to use both traditional and modern brick and block laying techniques, set out buildings and erect scaffolding.
The Army Cadet Force (ACF) can trace its beginnings to 1859 when there was a threat of invasion by the French. The British Army was still heavily involved abroad after the Indian mutinies, and therefore had very few units in this country. The Volunteers were formed to repel the possible invasion. Immediately following the formation of the Volunteers came the start of the Cadets. In 1860 at least eight schools had formed Volunteer companies for their senior boys and masters, and a number of volunteer units had started their own cadet companies. The cadet movement continued to grow over time encouraged by pioneers of their time, such as Miss Octavia Hill, who had done a great deal to establish the National Trust and was certainly not a militarist! She formed the Southwark Cadet Company in order to introduce the boys of the slums of that area to the virtues of order, cleanliness, teamwork and self-reliance.
The present concept of the Army Cadet Force as a voluntary youth organisation, helped and inspired by the Army, really stems from that time, and has continued throughout the ACF’s history.
The early fostering of the relationship between our Company and the RSME was sponsored by Past Master Sir Idris Pearce and was formalised on 28 June 2000 at the Royal Hospital Chelsea by an exchange of adoption scrolls. The adoption recognised the mutual skills, shared values, and long histories of both organisations. In 2008 the Lord Mayor invited livery companies to support youth organisations and Past Master Ian Grimshaw seized the opportunity to adopt the Royal Engineer Cadet Detachments in the Greater London Region, further strengthening the relationship between the Company and the Corps.
Two significant events preceded this Affiliation, firstly the establishment of the Stokes Awards, generously funded through a trust set up by the Stokes family. And secondly, a joint venture to design and construct 3 polar sundials that were presented to the City of London in the Millennium year. One is located on the North Bank of the River Thames adjacent to the Millennium Bridge, one is located on the South Bank of the River Thames close to the Millennium Dome Ecology Park and the third is displayed in the Royal Engineers Museum in Chatham. All three sundials were constructed at the Royal School of Military Engineering based on a concept developed by Past Master Piers Nicholson and each contains a time capsule enclosing the Company and Royal Engineers Lists.
Spr Burley joined the Corps of Royal Engineers in 2017 and completed his Basic Combat Engineer Training at 3 RSME Regiment. Spr Burley selected to become a Bricklayer and Concreter by trade and completed his ME B&C Class 2 Course. He was posted to 33 Engineer Regiment EOD&S and successfully completed his Defence Advance Search Team course and has since deployed on many exercises. In 2020 Spr Burley returned to 1 RSME Regiment to complete his Class 1 B&C Course. His attitude and motivation towards the training was extremely good. This motivation went hand in hand with the standard of his practical work and Spr Burley demands nothing less than perfection in his work. He is a truly excellent trade asset to his unit and has earned a well-deserved recommendation for Clerk of Works.
Spr Sheridan worked with his father doing landscaping before enlisting into the British Army in 2019. He completed his Basic Combat Engineer Training at 3 RSME Regiment in 2020 and after completing his ME B&C Class 2 Course from 1 RSME Regiment in 2021 he was posted to 23 Para Engr Regt where he has already been deployed to Afghanistan. Spr Sheridan completed his course 17 days early, his ability to lay bricks came naturally to him and his trowel skills were to a high standard. His attention to detail and finesse ensured all tasks were completed to an extremely high standard. Spr Sheridan is a highly competent tradesman who has delivered a consistently high standard of work earning the respect of his instructors and peers and has been recommended to return for early Class 1 Training.
Cdt RSM Natalia McFadzean is the first RSM to be appointed in a decade. She has risen superbly to the challenges of every role which she has filled. Natalia has performed superbly at every stage of her development as an NCO and has proven herself a gifted instructor, as well as a determined and astute Troop Commander in the field. Natalia’s admirable calmness and professionalism is ever present and she is always prepared to step in to instruct when occasion demands. She displays moral courage by taking difficult decisions and telling us when we need to change and adapt to the needs of our Cadets. Her turnout is immaculate, and she sets an excellent example to the younger Cadets and her reliability and integrity when acting independently are two reasons why she was selected for her role.
SSI Stannett was appointed in March 2018 and has been an integral part of her unit’s achievements since. Her responsibilities include the planning and undertaking of training of cadets across a broad range of subjects at Basic to 3-star level as part of the Army Cadet syllabus and she has facilitated cadets to take part in many national activities. She is also the appointed Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Manager, planning and delivering training across several detachments; her efforts were recognised by the award of an ACCT UK Excellence award for exceptional contribution to the DoE award scheme. SSI Stannett is a committed, enthusiastic member of the company and an outstanding Cadet Force Adult Volunteer.
WorldSkills UK is an independent charity and a partnership between employers, education, and governments. Together, they are using international best practice to raise standards in apprenticeships and technical education so more young people and employers succeed.
WorldSkills UK is a member of WorldSkills, a global movement from over 80 countries. WorldSkills supports young people across the world via competitions-based training, assessment, and benchmarking, with members’ national teams ultimately testing their ability to achieve world-class standards in the biennial global ‘Skills Olympics’.
The WorldSkills UK National Finals, known as “WorldSkills UK LIVE” are held in the November of each year. Finalists must first compete in a range of remote and offline tests before taking part in Regional Qualifiers at their local college, training provider or workplace. The winners of these Regional Qualifiers are notified in September and then have October to prepare and practice for the National Finals. Winners of the National Finals are then eligible for selection onto the international “Squad UK” and showcase their skills on the world stage in both European and Global competitions.
SkillBuild is the name of the UK construction specific skills competition run by GoConstruct, who are funded from the CITB Levy. GoConstruct, under their SkillBuild banner, organise and run the construction specific Regional and National construction skills competitions on behalf of WorldSkills UK.
Following the disruption caused to the event in 2020 and 2021 by the Covid 19 pandemic, WorldSkills UK returned to its original format in 2022 with all construction finals being held in one location. Edinburgh College hosted the construction finals at their Granton Campus on the 15th, 16th and 17th of November 2022 and the event was attended by the Master and the Chairman of the Craft Committee.
The Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers recognises and rewards the winners of the finals at WorldSkills UK, in our 3 crafts and bestows upon these winners the following awards: -
• The E & R Fuller Award for Bricklaying
• The Mason-Elliott Award for Roof Slating & Tiling,
• The Montgomery Award for Wall and Floor Tiling
In addition, the Company also sponsors the Bricklaying Stretch (speed) Test. The stretch test is a balance of skill and speed that requires competitors to build a decorative brick pillar as quickly as possible with marks being given for the speed element whilst still being assessed for millimetre accuracy.
The Master presented the 2023 Bricklaying Stretch Test Award, on the final day of competition, during the closing dinner to the winner James Coleman, from York College.
The Master with this year’s Bricklaying finalists and their tutors
The Master with this year’s roof slating and tiling finalists and their tutors
The Master with this year’s wall and floor tiling finalists and their tutors
This year’s E & R Fuller Award for Bricklaying is presented to Jago Gamblin.
After winning his Regional Heats, Jago competed in this year’s WorldSkills UK National Finals event. The competition was held on the 16th to the 17th of November 2022 at the Granton Campus of Edinburgh College, where he competed against 6 other competitors from around the UK.
Commenting on his success, Jago said, “I was over the moon to hear the result; I knew I had done quite well and was hoping for a top 3 finish; however, to get the Gold medal is fantastic, and I couldn’t have done it without the support of George and Steve my Bricklaying Lecturers, I am now looking forward to hopefully going on to represent the UK in the World Skills in Lyon France and trying out my skills against the best in the world.”
Jago’s Bricklaying lecturer at Fareham College, Steve Kirk, added, “the department is exceptionally proud of Jago and the outcome he secured at the competition. He performed admirably, and the work produced was to an exceptional standard. Jago has completed his level 1, 2 and 3 Bricklaying course at the College and I have enjoyed supporting him throughout; I look forward to seeing his success in the future.”
This year competitors were challenged to construct a highly detailed arch and tympanum incorporating many different bonding and pointing techniques followed by a highly complex representation of the Scottish flag using blue glazed bricks with smooth recessed pointing and white glazed bricks finished flush pointed in a white grout/lime putty.
This year’s Mason-Elliott Award for Roof Slating and Tiling is presented to Jordan Maley, who is no stranger to these awards having also won the competition in 2022!
Jordan, a slating apprentice from South Lanarkshire College (SLC), was one of seven student roof slaters and tilers from colleges across the country who competed head-to-head at the WorldSkills UK National Finals event.
Jordan, a third-year roofing apprentice at South Lanarkshire College said, following the event, “I love competing and showcasing my skills. I get to practice techniques and details I don’t often get to do in my normal work. It’s a real test of skills: working to small tolerances, perfect perp’ lines, neat cement work and everything balanced to achieve the overall look. I enjoy the challenge, but it certainly hasn’t been easy – there was a lot of good talent here and it was a very close competition.”
Following his victory Jordan’s lecturer at South Lanarkshire College, Ross Hepburn, said: “Everyone in our college community is delighted for Jordan who has gone from strength to strength with his roof slating and tiling skills, he is an outstanding student and is a pleasure to teach, I wish him success in the next stage in his journey.”
Jason Owens of Owens LRJ Roofing, Jordans employer, said, “It’s been a great competition to recognise not only the very good education Jordan’s receiving at college, but also providing a great experience here. Taking part as one of the best young roofers in the country is a great accolade in itself – and we can use that in our communications and marketing to customers.”
Competitors were provided with an exacting brief that tested all their skills. Underlays had to be evenly tensioned and free from damage with correct laps. Battening had to be fitted to the correct gauge, ensuring that the timber was defect free and had the correct fixings. Slates were to be correctly graded and holed to a maximum of 5mm. All laps, overhangs, valleys, and verges were tightly controlled, and measurements physically checked by the Inspectors. An integrated ornate panel was compulsory in both the tiled and slated roof pitches and marks were awarded for, symmetry, cutting and overall appearance. Finally, marks were awarded for Health and Safety, incorporating safe working practices, cleanliness of the work area and the wearing of appropriate PPE.
This year’s Montgomery Award for Wall and Floor Tiling is presented to Conor Nugent.
Conor recently completed his level 2 and 3 NVQ in Wall and Floor Tiling at Southern Region College and now works full time for Leo Duffy Tiling in Armagh, a company presently working in private housing new builds.
When he is not tiling Conor is a keen Gaelic footballer and we are told that although he is quiet and unassuming off the pitch, he is a ferocious back for his local Club Granemore GFC!
Conor’s tutor, Paul Doran says of Conor,
“He has worked hard in his pursuit of the gold medal and decided after not placing in last year’s national finals that he would assess his performance and come back even stronger for 2022. His long hard work and extra training paid off”.
Contestants had to first complete a stretch (speed) test which involved using a tile backing system from Schluter UK, to prepare the background that involved cutting and applying Kerdi-board and fitting a prefabricated niche to be set at a prescribed height. The following tile design asked the competitors to create a large thistle motif in cut tile to precise measurements on one wall and to craft circular work and tile the niche with a border on the adjacent wall.
The Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers of the City of London has for centuries played a leading part in the regulation of standards of craftsmanship in and around London. Because of the importance of the London region these have impacted on standards across the United Kingdom and helped to shape the various manifestations of the Building Regulations since their introduction in the wake of the Great Fire in 1666.
We wish to recognise those who achieve higher levels of competence in the crafts of bricklaying, roof slating and tiling and wall and floor tiling, through a combination of their own training, practical site experience and a willingness to assist in the training of others. This recognition takes the form of the award of Master Craftsman status.
Applicants for the award must:
• have completed a recognised apprenticeship or a recognised college course and now possess formal craft qualifications
• provide evidence to show the time spent in training and as a qualified craftsman
• provide details of projects that they have worked on which demonstrate their experience and standing in their chosen trade.
The applicants must first provide evidence to support core competencies in all 3 trades. For bricklayers they must then choose either a General or Heritage Bricklayer specialisation.
Next, the applicants must select a further six skills from the remaining list of trade specific competencies for which detailed written and photographic evidence must be submitted.
Generally, applicants will submit a portfolio of their projects, including photographs, through which they can demonstrate knowledge, experience, and successful completion of the required competencies, including the date that the works were carried out and as part of the evaluation process, members of the Craft Committee may visit to inspect the presented examples of workmanship first hand.
References from three individuals who have had direct experience of the subject’s work are also a prerequisite for consideration of an application. This could be an Architect, Surveyor, Conservation Officer, Client, or colleague.
We are delighted to announce that this year we are to recognise three individuals who have met the stringent criteria, 2 of whom will receive special awards given in acknowledgement of services to both education and industry.
Matthew Timby Master Craftsman Roof Slater & Tiler
Simon Dixon Services to Education & Industry
Chris Cox Services to Education & Industry
The Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers take great pleasure in recognising Matthew (Matt) Timby as Master Craftsman – Roof Slater and Tiler.
Matt began his career as an apprentice roof slater and tiler in 2007 working for a small local roofing firm. During his training he was selected to represent his college twice, both in 2009 and 2010 at SkillBuild. Matt went on to win gold medals on both occasions and as a result he is also no stranger to these proceedings, having both the 2009 and 2010 Mason-Elliott Awards bestowed upon him by our Company.
After completing an NVQ3 advanced apprenticeship in roof slating and tiling Matt successfully applied for a place on the Princes Foundation for the Built Environments’ Heritage craft apprenticeship in 2010. It is here that Matt developed a passion and understanding of the need for the sympathetic repair needed to conserve our historic buildings. The Prince of Wales presented Matt with his Master Craftsman Certificate for completing his time with the foundation and he later received his Heritage roof slating and tiling qualification.
In 2010 Matt represented the UK at the IFD (International Federation for DachdeckerHandwerks) young roofers world championships in Belfast winning a gold medal with his teammate from Northern Ireland.
Matt started his own company, Timby Traditional Roofing, in 2012 and in the same year Matt returned to the Bi-annual IFD competition, this time in Switzerland and returned with the Presidents Prize Award, for best slating.
Since 2012 Matt has been assisting annually at the Skillshow (NEC Birmingham) and Skillbuild competitions as an assistant judge and during 2016 was an independent judge during the regional heats.
Under Matts tutelage, Timby Traditional Roofing has trained 2 apprentices who have both excelled at Leeds College of Building, obtaining NVQ3’s in Roof slating and tiling.
As a keen leadworker Matt enrolled on the City and Guilds Leadworkers certificate with the Lead Sheet Association in 2014. In 2016 he attended an ornamental slating course in Germany and went on to win both the slating and tiling categories at the 2016 National Roofing Awards held in London and came runner up in the 2016 Young Lead Worker of the Year awards, all whilst completing the final module of his City & Guilds in Leadwork!
Matt became an official CITB Skillbuild judge and was head judge for the 2018 finals and has continued to be part of the NFRC Skillbuild team. He is now an NFRC IFD young roofers’ mentor and judged the “Great British Slate Off” young roofers competition in 2021.
When Matt has not been entering competitions or training young roofers he is to be found working on historic properties, stately homes and churches using traditional clay materials (pan and plain tiles), natural slates (Welsh and Westmoreland in standard and random sizes) and fully supported metals including lead sheet and copper.
Matt is also being presented with an additional award this year, a copy of Liveryman Gerald Emerton’s comprehensive roofing reference book, titled “The Pattern of Traditional Roofing”.
This year, The Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers is recognising Simon Dixon for services to the roof slating and tiling industry through his long-served career as a tradesman, an educationalist and mentor for countless young roofers.
After leaving school in 1982 Simon followed in his family’s footsteps and joined Giblins Roofing as an apprentice roof slater and tiler where he remained for 7 years and during which time he successfully achieved his NVQ3 in Roof Slating and Tiling and progressed to the position of foreman.
For the next 10 years Simon worked for himself undertaking a multitude of roofing projects in both the public and private sector and during the last 2 years he became a part time instructor delivering NVQ training and assessments at the Leeds College of Building. Those 2 years were pivotal for Simon as in 1998 he became a full time instructor, leaving his life on the tools behind. For the next 3 years Simon worked for the National Construction College (CITB) at their centres in Kent, Birmingham and Bircham Newton delivering NVQ training and assessments to students.
Simon went on to become leader of the Roofing Department at Bolton Community College before establishing his own pitched roofing consultancy business. For the next 8 years he worked throughout the UK delivering NVQ training and worked closely with Sandtoft Tiles, prior to their acquisition by Wienerberger.
It was at this time that Simon was approached by Liveryman Martin Oldridge who had a vision to create a unique training centre at Sandtoft Tiles, his family-owned business. Simon worked with a former colleague of his from Leeds College of Building to create this new training centre from scratch. The project was developed under the watchful eye of Kate Cusk a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers and daughter of Martin Oldridge. Simon proceeded to conduct on-site training and assessments nationwide and experienced worker practical assessments at the Training Centre. This resulted in the achievement of an ‘A’ graded Assessment Centre.
To put this achievement in perspective, at that time, the joint awarding bodies of both the City and Guilds and the Construction Skills assessment centres were only managing a ‘C’ grade.
As Simon himself says about the project, “What is most important to recognise is that this was all done at no cost to the roofing contractors, in some cases with the funding available at the time, the contractors were actually in pocket, such was the generosity of Martin Oldridge, indeed, truly giving back and investing in the training and qualifications of more than 200 roofers.”
Following completion of this highly successful project Simon joined Wienerberger where his job role grew to encompass many aspects of both training and development to industry and young roofers alike. Whilst planning and delivering internal and external training courses Simon supported the sales teams with his extensive technical knowledge.
After 6 years Simon joined the National Federation of Roofing Contractors where he initially fulfilled the roles of Technical Officer and Technical Manager for the Competent Roofer Scheme. A year later Simon progressed to become Training Manager and Technical Officer. As Joint Chair of the Working Group he liaised with the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education in the New Trailblazer Apprenticeship Standard review and developed the NFRC’s application in becoming an End Point Assessment Organisation. Simon also Chaired the Tutors Forum in support of all roof training within the UK and Chaired the RoofCERT Accreditation and Standards Committee which developed and delivered the instructional courses for both internal staff and the Competent Person Scheme auditors.
During this period Simon also became a World Skills UK/SkillBuild Competition Workshop Manager, and a regional and National Judge. In this part of his role Simon created and organised the Roofing Skills Showcase at the NEC for World Skills UK. This involved liaising with World Skills and the major roofing material manufacturers to showcase roofing to the 75,000 visitors with demonstrations and ‘have a go’ tasks for school children. This was to be a first at World Skills UK and is now the blueprint for engagement with young people.
Simon moved on from the NFRC this year and has joined the BMI Group where he fullfils the role of Technical Training Manager. In this new role he manages a team of technical instructors delivering pitched, flat and solar training at 3 centres in the UK, assists the specification managers and area managers with training requirements of staff and roofing contractors and supports colleges providing them with materials in order to facilitate quality training and assessment.
For those of us lucky enough to know Simon personally we cannot thank him enough for everything he has contributed to the careers of our young roofers embarking on their apprenticeships and the technical support he has provided to both them and the industry at large during his career.
It is with great honour that we bestow this special award on Simon Dixon in 2023 in special recognition of all the great work and commitment that he has shown during his lifetime to the training, encouragement, and support of our slating and tiling craft.
This year, The Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers is recognising Chris Cox for services to the wall and floor tiling industry through his substantial career as a creator and designer of wall and floor tiles and for being instrumental in the resurrection of the art of encaustic tile production in the UK.
When Chris first left school to embark on a two-year Foundation course in Art and Design specializing in ceramics at Eastbourne Art College, he probably had no idea where his journey would take him. The course at Eastbourne was led by John Warren, a studio potter who introduced Chris to clay, a fascinating, challenging and incredible material. The next two years were spent on a Studio Ceramics Course at Harrow where he first experimented with the process of handmade encaustic tiles. Whilst the course was built around thrown and sculpted studio pottery, the extensive experience and knowledge of both resident and visiting lecturers was very inspiring to him.
The highlight of a visit, led by course technician Victor Bryant to several ceramics factories in Stoke on Trent in 1989 was a tour of the specialist products division of H&R Johnson, where he witnessed the hand manufacture of traditional encaustic floor tiles for the restoration of the Capitol Building in Washington. This inspired Chris to research and develop his own clays, slips, production methods and tools to create encaustic tiles which he continued to develop throughout the following years.
On completion of the course in summer 1991, Chris moved to his parent’s smallholding in Pembrokeshire and began to establish his own business. He spent the first year converting a disused cowshed into a ceramics workshop with help in the form of a grant and loan from the Princes Youth Business Trust, and some funds and business support from the Pembrokeshire Business Initiative, as well as indispensable patience and support from his parents. Chris began trading in 1992 making a range of domestic pottery and medieval style inlaid floor tiles.
In 1996 he was invited by Michael Vanns of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust to relocate his business to the Jackfield Tile Museum and continue to develop the art of traditional encaustic tile manufacture. The move was made in 1997 and Chris’s business was renamed The Encaustic Tile Co.
An opportunity arose in 2001 to combine his tile business with Craven Dunnill Jackfield Ltd to form what is now the floor tile department of the country’s leading traditional bespoke tile manufacturing company.
2007 saw a significant development in the new business with the contract to manufacture encaustic tiles to replace all the principal tiled floors in the Palace of Westminster. This huge project took around twelve years to complete and required tens of thousands of individually handmade encaustic floor tiles to be made accurately reproducing the original Minton & Co. floors of the 1850s. The commission required Chris to develop a new floor tile clay body to meet the specific demands of the client and to be of sufficiently high quality to remain in situ without deterioration for at least a century. He spent 12 months or so developing a fully vitreous encaustic clay body which when independently tested by Ceram Research attained full marks in every category, these being slip resistance, deep and shallow abrasion, chemical and stain resistance, whilst being an exact visual facsimile of the original Minton clays and inlays. The project remains the single largest tile contract in the 150-year history of Craven Dunnill & Co.
The development of suitable clay recipes, close management, and involvement in all aspects of the manufacturing process at Jackfield has been and is Chris’s ongoing responsibility. Craven Dunnill encaustic tiles are now supplied to significant projects worldwide including Parliament buildings in Canada and Australia, churches, courthouses and other large public and municipal buildings in the United States, New Zealand, Mexico, and numerous churches, cathedrals, town halls, private residences, and public buildings throughout the UK and abroad.
Continued research, development, and the training of a skilled team of encaustic tile makers has been at the heart of Chris’s work at Jackfield and in 2019 he was invited to teach the art of encaustic tile manufacture to students on the Prince’s Foundation Building Arts Programme at Dumfries House.
During the Summer of 2022 Craven Dunnill Jackfield hosted three students from the course at Jackfield to further their experience and knowledge of the tile making process. One of these students has returned and used her knowledge together
with the facilities at Jackfield to produce a fine encaustic tile floor of her own design and creation for an arts centre in Paisley. Such installations are a wonderful permanent legacy of the value of the skills Chris has developed at Jackfield, and testament to the unique inspiration and support he is able to pass on to the next generation of artists, designers and crafts people.
Chris in his role at Craven Dunnill Jackfield has hosted Frances Priest, a highly talented ceramicist working with the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust, sharing his knowledge and workshop facilities to enable her to expand her own designs into tiles for both walls and floors.
Whilst there are no apprentices at Jackfield, since there being no formal apprentice schemes within the ceramic tile industry, they are working with Heritage Crafts to recognise the issue and establish just such a process whereby trainees can be supported to learn and safeguard what are now considered to be rare but essential skills within the field of ceramics. Teaching within the Building Arts Programme of the Prince’s Foundation has the benefit of bringing the skills to a wider audience than just one or two apprentices.
The eight students who enrol for the course every year are purposefully chosen from very diverse backgrounds each with their unique individual experience in many different fields. The beauty of this is that it brings a fresh approach to the adoption of tile making processes whereby the students learn the traditional craft but use their new-found knowledge in a very different way than they would at Jackfield, being limited specifically to Jackfield’s own projects within the restoration and conservation markets. This then ensures that the art of tile making is continued in a much wider range of applications and disciplines beyond those involved in at Craven Dunnill.
Those of us who attended the 2022 Craft Visit to Craven Dunnill Jackfield had the pleasure of meeting Chris in person and all fed off his immense knowledge and enthusiasm for his craft.
It is with great honour that we bestow this special award on Chris Cox in 2023 in special recognition of all the great work and commitment that he has shown during his lifetime to the training, encouragement, and support of our young artists, designers and crafts people
Throughout the year The Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers acknowledge, support and reward many other craft events, trusts and charities, including: -
• The Prince’s Foundation Craft Programme (apprentice craft training towards Master Craftsman)
• Weald and Downland Living Museum (conservation and repair of historical buildings)
• Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust (Jackfield Tile Museum)
• Building Crafts College (bricklaying)
• Bursledon Brickworks Museum
• The London Careers Showcase
• St Edmunds Society
• World Skills UK
• Youth Build
• SPAB
During the past 12 months the Company have been, in conjunction with their industry partners, developing a Craft Bursary Scheme designed to provide financial support to deserving persons throughout the UK who are undertaking an approved form of craft training.
The scheme will launch in 2023 and is supported by the Brick Development Association.
The scheme will be made available to anyone presently aged between 16 and the state retirement age who satisfies a number of conditions, including personal eligibility and being able to demonstrate that they have been accepted onto a training course directly connected to one of our three trades.
If selected as a beneficiary of the scheme, the successful candidates will receive an award in the sum of £1000.
In year one we are aiming to make a minimum of 3 awards, with a least one within each of our three trade disciplines and hope, through the continued support of our trade partners, to increase this number of beneficiaries in subsequent years.
Full details will be published on our website in the coming months to coincide with the official launch of the scheme.
The E&R Fuller award is supported by the Fuller Family in memory of Past Masters Edward Fuller (1954) and Robert Fuller (1962).
The Montgomery Award is funded by the Montgomery Trust set up by Past Master Bryan Montgomery (1980).
The Mason-Elliott Award is supported by funds made available by Past Master Newlyn Mason-Elliott (1997).
The Stokes Awards are made available from a trust fund established by Past Masters Christopher Stokes (1984) and Jeremy Stokes (1989).
The special book award presented to this year’s Master Craftsman – Roof Slater and Tiler, was kindly donated by its author, Liveryman Gerald Emerton and is titled “The Pattern of Traditional Roofing”.
The year was 1770 when the then Master Mr Henry Wallis, Upper Warden Mr Henry Holland and Renter Warden Mr John Watkins commissioned master silversmith William Plummer to produce two unique pudding trowels bearing the coat of arms of The Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers. The trowels were modelled with large triangular blades pierced with foliate scroll work and flower heads. The reverse displayed the arms of the Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers in addition to an inscription on the stem “The Gift of Mr Henry Wallis Master, Mr Henry Holland Upper Warden, Mr John Watkins Renter Warden 1770”. At some point during the early 20th century the trowels went missing from the Company’s collection of silverware, it was thought, never to be seen again. However, thanks to the eagle eye of Past Master Ian Mitchell Grimshaw these trowels were rediscovered and have since been returned to the Company.
The Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers
Clerk: Heather Smith
25 Glenferrie Road, Saint Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 4JT
clerk@tylersandbricklayers.co.uk
www.tylersandbricklayers.co.uk