lead clock tower

NEAL ROOFING / PROJECT ARCHIVE

Westmorland Slate Roofing
& Lead Clock Tower Restoration

Heritage roof restoration at Prince Henry’s Grammar School in Otley, combining random-width diminishing-course Westmorland slating, specialist leadwork, clock tower refurbishment, timber repairs and rainwater improvements.

OTLEY · WEST YORKSHIRE · WESTMORLAND SLATE · LEADWORK · CLOCK TOWER

Explore the Project

01 — THE PROJECT

Westmorland slate roofing at Prince Henry’s Grammar School

Prince Henry’s Grammar School in Otley traces its history back to the early seventeenth century, although the section of the building forming this project is believed to date from the later nineteenth century.

Neal Roofing, formerly Geoff Neal Roofing, was appointed to refurbish a substantial section of the traditional Westmorland slate roof together with the prominent lead-clad clock tower positioned at the centre of the elevation.

NATURAL SLATE ROOFING →
SPECIALIST LEADWORK →
HERITAGE ROOFING →

PROJECT

Roof Restoration

PROGRAMME

12 Weeks

LOCATION

Otley

PRIMARY MATERIAL

Westmorland Slate

02 — EXISTING CONDITION

A traditional roof approaching the end of its serviceable life

The existing roof covering comprised Westmorland slate laid in random widths and diminishing courses, with much of the material having been in service for many decades.

The roof incorporated lead valleys, abutments, parapet interfaces and a prominent timber clock tower clad in lead.

Ageing materials and local deterioration meant that comprehensive refurbishment was more appropriate than continued isolated repair.

03 — THE BRIEF

Preserve the historic appearance while rebuilding the roof system

Our brief was to carefully remove and salvage the existing Westmorland slates, repair the underlying structure and reconstruct the roof using the original material wherever practical.

Matching reclaimed Westmorland slates were introduced to compensate for breakages and shortages.

The work also included substantial restoration of the central clock tower, together with parapet repairs, new rainwater goods, insulation improvements and associated leadwork.

lead clock tower

Westmorland Slate

Random-width diminishing-course slating reinstated using original and carefully matched reclaimed material.

Clock Tower

Specialist restoration of the timber tower and its intricate lead roof covering.

Heritage Detailing

Lead valleys, parapets, masonry, insulation and rainwater management delivered as one coordinated scheme.

04 — SCOPE OF WORKS

A multi-discipline heritage roof restoration.

The project combined traditional slate roofing with specialist leadwork, joinery, masonry, insulation and rainwater improvements.

Roof + Slate

  • Removal and grading of existing slate
  • Approximately 50% slate salvage
  • Reclaimed Westmorland slate to shortages
  • New breathable membrane
  • New treated softwood battens
  • Random-width slating
  • Diminishing-course setting out
  • Roof insulation improvements

Leadwork + Fabric

  • Lead clock tower restoration
  • New lead valley linings
  • Lead soakers and flashings
  • Parapet interface detailing
  • Stone coping repairs
  • Timber substrate repairs
  • New aluminium rainwater goods
  • External decoration

05 — WESTMORLAND SLATE ROOFING

Random widths and diminishing courses

Westmorland slate roofs are distinguished by their irregular widths and courses that progressively diminish in size towards the apex.

The existing slates were carefully removed, graded and set aside for reuse. Approximately half remained suitable for reinstatement.

Matching reclaimed Westmorland slates were sourced to make good the resulting shortages, allowing the completed roof to retain the colour, texture and character of the original building.

The new battens were individually gauged to suit the diminishing courses before each slate was selected and positioned according to its size and width.

Natural Slate Roofing →
BS 5534 Slating + Tiling →
The Reclaimed Company →

06 — LEAD CLOCK TOWER

Restoring the defining feature of the elevation

The central clock tower is one of the most distinctive architectural elements on the school building and required specialist attention.

The ageing lead covering was removed to expose the timber substrate, allowing localised deterioration to be repaired before the new weathering system was installed.

The replacement leadwork involved numerous curved and intricate details requiring traditional bossing, dressing, welding and welted-panel techniques.

The completed lead roof protects the timber structure while retaining the historic appearance of the tower.

Specialist Leadwork →
The Lead Lads® →

07 — PARAPETS + INTERFACES

Rebuilding the interfaces around the roof

The stone parapets formed an important junction with the slate roof and required careful dismantling and reinstatement.

The coping stones were lifted and set aside while repairs were undertaken to the parapet walls beneath.

A new damp-proof layer was introduced before the copings were reinstated and secured using stainless-steel fixings.

New Code 5 lead cover flashings were formed at the roof interfaces, together with replacement valleys, soakers and other local weathering details.

The project also incorporated several technically interesting features including lead sortiers, close-mitred hips and purpose-formed detailing at the bases of valleys.

08 — RAINWATER GOODS

Renewing the drainage system

The existing cast-iron guttering had reached the point where replacement was considered appropriate as part of the wider refurbishment.

A new aluminium rainwater system was installed to provide durable drainage while remaining visually appropriate for the building.

09 — THERMAL PERFORMANCE

Improving performance while the roof was open

Replacement of the roof covering provided an opportunity to improve insulation over the horizontal ceiling structure.

Integrating these improvements during re-roofing allowed thermal performance to be enhanced without altering the traditional external appearance of the school.

10 — PROJECT RECORD

Before.
During.
Completed.

The photographic archive records the Westmorland slate roof and clock tower before work, the construction process and the completed restoration.

The images provide a permanent record of the traditional slating, leadwork, joinery and heritage detailing required to complete the project.

Project imagery

The existing Westmorland slate roof, clock tower and associated detailing prior to dismantling.

The construction record documents slate removal, structural preparation, clock tower work and progressive reinstatement.

installing a new membrane, listed building

lead dome

The completed roof demonstrates the restored random-width Westmorland slating and specialist lead clock tower detailing.

Westmorland slate roofing

lead clock tower

11 — TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE

Traditional materials backed by technical knowledge

Roofing Regulations + Standards →
BS 5534 Slating + Tiling →
BS 6915 Leadwork →
BS 8000 Workmanship →
Heritage Roofing →

12 — RELATED EXPERTISE

Surveying and specification for complex roof projects

Traditional school buildings and heritage roofs frequently benefit from detailed investigation and properly prepared specifications before construction begins.

Strut Building Surveyors provides independent roof condition surveys, building pathology, defect investigation, specifications, contractor procurement and project consultancy.

The consultancy operates independently from Neal Roofing where professional advice or oversight is required separately from the contracting function.

Strut Building Surveyors →

The Lead Lads®

Specialist lead roofing, architectural detailing, technical guidance and rolled lead sheet.

THE LEAD LADS →

The Reclaimed Company®

Reclaimed Westmorland slate, traditional roofing materials and architectural salvage.

EXPLORE THE MARKETPLACE →

Neal Roofing Knowledge Base

Technical guidance covering natural slate, leadwork, workmanship, roof build-ups and heritage roofing.

EXPLORE TECHNICAL GUIDANCE →

13 — PROJECT OUTCOME

A traditional roof restored for another generation

The completed project retained the character of the original Westmorland slate roof while replacing the components necessary to improve its long-term performance.

Reclaimed slate, renewed lead details, timber repairs, parapet work, insulation and new rainwater goods were coordinated within one programme.

The restored clock tower remains the defining architectural feature of the elevation and provides a particularly strong example of specialist leadwork undertaken alongside traditional diminishing-course slating.

NEAL ROOFING / PROJECT ARCHIVE

Westmorland slate. Specialist leadwork. Historic buildings in practice.

The Prince Henry’s project forms part of the Neal Roofing archive documenting substantial residential, educational, heritage, ecclesiastical and commercial roofing work undertaken across Yorkshire and the North of England.

The archive records real buildings, traditional materials, construction details and technical challenges — preserving the practical experience accumulated through completed roofing projects.