The use of clay roof tiles in the Ireland can be traced at least as far back as the eleventh century & were believed to have been introduced by the Anglo Normans. The late Victorian & Edwardian periods saw an increased use of clay roof tiles. it brought a new aesthetic with its terracotta colouring. Examples from this period can still be seen primarily in Dublin, Cork & Belfast due to there proximity to the main ports.
In Cork plenty examples exist in the Tivoli & Blackrock Areas. In Cork the connection with the Huguenots – French settlers who became prominent in commerical and politics in Cork undoubtedly influenced the use of clay tiles at this time. Our Edilian clay tiles still bear the name Huguenot and take a similar shipping route to those of that period , France – Rotterdam – Cork.
