Wisbech High Street Project Heritage Talks Medieval Tiles by Karen Slade

Trained artist Karen Slade, who has delivered creative arts, history and medieval demonstrations and training courses across the UK for over 20 years, has a huge passion for making medieval tiles. Just 15 miles away from Wisbech by road is the site of the Bawsey Medieval Tilery, which supplied tiles to Priories and churches in Norfolk and Lincolnshire. The tiles are unique to this area and kiln and have geometric patterns and flowers as well as animals and some very Viking style Dragons! I will show making methods for more typical medieval tiles and also look at some tiles from other East of England sites. About Karen: I discovered a love for medieval tiles in 1996 when I spent a week making and firing them while living as a Tudor at Kentwell Hall in Suffolk. Since then I’ve been fortunate to be able to make a part of my living through demonstrating and teaching medieval tile making all over the country. I’m still discovering new things about tile designs and understanding what these mean in the wider context of the medieval church and the patrons who commissioned them. The talk took place on 25th January 2022, and was generously funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund and delivered through Fenland District Councils Wisbech High Street Project https://www.highstreetwisbech.org.uk