Abbey Tile

This tile is recovered from the grounds of the ruins of Reading Abbey in the United Kingdom. Tiles such as this one were widely used in church buildings in the Middle Ages. Clay for tiles was dug up in the autumn and left in the open air to weather for a few months, perhaps dug over once or twice. To make an individual tile the tiler then threw a lump of clay into a square mould. Surplus clay was scraped off the bottom with a wire and the surfaces were smoothed with a piece of wood. The blank tiles were then left to dry before being decorated. This is a printed tile. An embossed stamp was coated with white clay and then pressed onto the sruface of the blank tile, rather like printing with ink on a piece of paper. The tile was then glazed to prevent wear and tear. This tile is in [School Loans box H16/B](http://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/explore/schools/school-loan-boxes).