100% Natural

Only Dreadnought offer a range of colours (and it is a wide one) that consists entirely of natural burnt clay colours produced by sophisticated control of the burning process. This expertise is contained in a tile works that was established in 1805 and has been developed by four generations of the same family management throughout the last century. Dreadnought are the only specialist manufacturer of plain tiles in “natural” clay colours both Smoothfaced and Sandfaced.

As no artificial colouring agents are used, all colours being obtained by burning in the kiln, Dreadnought tiles do not fade and will quickly attain a mature, mellow appearance in use.

Artificial stains and pigments have now widely replaced the traditional kiln firing expertise that has for centuries produced beautiful products. The difference between natural colours and artificial stains is all too obvious when confronted with samples and it is still clearer when on the roof.   Just look at the concrete tile roofs of the last 70 years to observe the fading colour.

Clay Colours

Precisely the same raw material "Etruria Marl Clay" is used in the manufacture of red tiles as blue tiles, the different colours produced are wholly attributable to kiln control.  Varying degrees of oxidisation of the iron in the clay generate the different colours.  This is why Dreadnought colours can have an organic gradation of colour across the tile that works so well for mixed colour blends.

Dreadnought Colours are permanent as they are not the result of added dyes and pigments which fade over time.  The colour in a Dreadnought is embodied in the tile, the result of the natural colour of burnt clay material.