Medieval ‘Westminster’ floor tiles
‘Westminster’ tiles – named after Westminster Abbey where they were first recognised – are among the most common medieval floor tiles found in London and were widely used at various ecclesiastical and aristocratic sites in south-east England. Easier to fire and lay than lead-glazed mosaic floor tiles, ‘Westminster’ tiles were being mass produced by London tilemakers by the 1260s. A separate centre in the Midlands manufactured tiles decorated with the same designs. Over 160 designs were produced, and this MoLAS monograph includes an illustrated catalogue giving the provenance of each.
Betts, I.M.
Paperback. 78pp. 37 bl/wh and 12 col ills. Museum of London. MoLAS Monograph 11. 2002.‘Westminster’ tiles – named after Westminster Abbey where they were first recognised – are among the most common medieval floor tiles found in London and were widely used at various ecclesiastical and aristocratic sites in south-east England. Easier to fire and lay than lead-glazed mosaic floor tiles, ‘Westminster’ tiles were being mass produced by London tilemakers by the 1260s. A separate centre in the Midlands manufactured tiles decorated with the same designs. Over 160 designs were produced, and this MoLAS monograph includes an illustrated catalogue giving the provenance of each.
