Keymer handmade clay tiles were chosen to help return the roof of The Vyne to its former glory. Keymer is the only manufacturer still using Weald clay to craft roof tiles by hand. This material was a natural choice for this project as it is native to the local area and would have likely been used on the original roof as it can be found in the ground deep beneath The Vyne estate. Keymer Traditional Antique plain tiles were selected for their inherent character which will age beautifully over time.

Experienced in working on restoration projects, the Heritage Services team were on hand to offer their advice and support, working closely with the National Trust to ensure that the roofing products supplied met all the required regulations.

The Vyne roof is a complicated and vast structure featuring many elevations. A team of skilled roofers from Ken Biggs Contractors Ltd fitted the handmade tiles. A rooftop walkway with viewing platforms was built around the scaffolding to give over 140,000 visitors the unique opportunity to take a closer look at the roof conservation project while work was underway.

Archaeologists and heritage science researchers from the University Oxford worked alongside the contractors to discover the secrets of how the 500 year old building was constructed. Once the scaffolding was taken away, the finished roof was revealed.