Full Heritage Re-Roofing of a Grade I Listed Church

Download a copy of this complete heritage roofing case study here.

Location: Beckley, near Rye, East Sussex

Building Type: Grade I Listed Parish Church

Project Type: Full re-roof of the Nave, Chancel & North Chapel

Specialism: Heritage roofing · Bat-safe membrane · Counter-battening · Lime mortar

The Challenge

Set in the lovely village of Beckley, near Rye in East Sussex, this Grade I listed parish church is one of the most significant historic buildings in its area. Tenterden Roofing was entrusted with the full re-roofing of the Nave, Chancel and North Chapel, a major conservation undertaking on a building of the highest heritage importance.

We were no strangers to the church, having already carried out sympathetic repairs here in the past, including re-roofing the porch and the Lych gate in previous years. That established relationship and proven track record gave the church confidence that the building’s fabric would be treated with the care and expertise it deserves.

The existing roof was around 200 years old and had reached the end of its serviceable life. Widespread nail rot had caused the battens to drop, and as a result the tiles had begun to slip and fall from the roof – a clear sign that a full strip and re-roof was needed rather than piecemeal patching.

A significant underlying problem was the lack of ventilation in the previous roof build-up. The earlier re-roofing cycle had not included counter-battening, which meant there was no air gap to allow the roof to breathe. Consequently, a great deal of damp had built up within the building, a serious concern for any historic structure, where trapped moisture accelerates decay of the very timbers that hold the roof together.

Our Approach

Given the Grade I listed status of the building, every decision required careful consideration of both conservation best practice and the requirements of the planning authority.

1. Temporary roof protection.
Before any stripping work began, we erected a temporary roof over the building to protect the interior and the historic fabric from the weather throughout the contract.

2. Careful strip and salvage.
The old roof was stripped and all sound original tiles were set aside for reuse. Salvaging original material is standard practice on historic buildings. It maintains the character and patina of the roof and reduces the quantity of new or second-hand tiles required.

3. Counter-battening for ventilation.
New counter-battens were fixed directly to the boarding before the membrane was laid. This creates a vital air gap between the boarding and the membrane, allowing the roof structure to breathe, reducing condensation, and significantly extending the life of the new roof.

4. Bat-safe breather membrane.
Because the church is a known bat roost, as many historic churches are, we specified and installed a bat-safe breather membrane. Standard membranes can trap and harm bats; the bat-safe specification ensures the building continues to provide safe roost access, as required under the relevant wildlife legislation.

5. New battens at correct gauge.
New tanalised timber battens were then fixed at the correct gauge for the tile size. Getting the gauge right is critical: too wide and water can track back under the tiles; too narrow and the roof will not drain properly.

6. Re-tiling with salvaged and second-hand tiles.
The roof was re-tiled using the salvaged originals supplemented with carefully matched second-hand tiles. Sourcing second-hand tiles that closely match the existing in colour, texture and size is a core part of heritage roofing; a mismatched new tile stands out immediately on a roof of this age.

7. Tile listings in lime mortar.
All tile listings (the mortar bedding at the verges, ridges and abutments) were carried out in traditional lime mortar. Lime is the correct and only appropriate mortar for a building of this age. It remains flexible as the building moves, breathes with the structure, and can be repaired without damaging the surrounding fabric. Portland cement, by contrast, is too rigid and can cause cracking and moisture entrapment in old buildings.

Materials & Techniques

– Bat-safe breather membrane (wildlife legislation compliant)
– Tanalised timber counter-battens and roof battens
– Salvaged original plain clay tiles supplemented with matched second-hand tiles
– Traditional lime mortar throughout for all tile listings
– Temporary roof structure for weather protection during works

The Result

The completed roof sits sympathetically on this beautiful Grade I listed building, maintaining its historic character while providing a sound, well-ventilated structure that should give many decades of service. The use of bat-safe membrane ensures the church continues to fulfil its role as a wildlife roost alongside its ecclesiastical function – something that matters both legally and ecologically.

The lime mortar listings will weather and flex naturally with the building, and the counter-battening detail means the roof can breathe as it was always intended to. This is roofing done properly, in keeping with the building’s age and importance.

Heritage Roofing Expertise

This ecclesiastical roofing project is a good example of the kind of work Tenterden Roofing carries out on listed and historic buildings across Kent and East Sussex. Heritage roofing requires a different approach to standard domestic or commercial work – an understanding of traditional materials, conservation principles, wildlife legislation, and the particular sensitivities of working on buildings that matter to their communities.

If you have a listed building, a church, or a historic property that needs roofing attention, contact us to discuss how we can help.