The new Gatehouse at St Edward's School, Oxford

Architect - TSH Architects

Roofing Contractor - Everest Roofing

Dreadnought handmade ornamental arrowhead tiles in a 4 colour mixed blend of deep red, bronze, dark heather and purple brown

The new Gatehouse at St Edward’s School in Oxford provides a welcoming entrance for students, staff and visitors. Designed by TSH Architects, the building is defined by its beautifully intersecting roof gables, which are tiled in handmade mixed colour Dreadnought clay ornamental arrowhead tiles that bring depth, craft and heritage to the new building.  

Sitting within a sensitive heritage setting, it was essential that the new Gatehouse blended naturally with the surrounding historic buildings. TSH Architects specified a mixed blend of four Dreadnought natural clay colours, selected for their subtle variation and authenticity. Unlike manufacturers who rely on stains or coloured sands, Dreadnought Tiles achieve their colour purely through traditional kiln firing: the same raw clay tiles enter the kiln, and it is the careful control of oxygen and atmosphere that produces the distinctive Dreadnought palette.

On the steep intersecting roof pitches here, the mixed blend settles into a beautifully organic, time‑worn surface that complements the older structures while giving the Gatehouse its own crafted identity. The new building feels rooted in tradition yet at the same time, the ornamental arrowheads are confidently contemporary, reinforcing the building’s role as a warm and welcoming threshold.