Page:Roman Manchester (1900) by Charles Roeder.djvu/136

 No imbrices or semi-cylindrical tiles for covering the roofing tiles have been seen in Castlefield. These were generally 36 in. long, 1¼ inches thick, and 3 inches in diameter.

Both bricks and tiles and drain pipes were made on the spot, and dried in the sun, and laid flat on the ground; the bottom of the tiles is always quite rough and sandy. They were probably dried, at the most handy and convenient place in Hulme, close to the southern banks of the Medlock. Some of the clay lumps are black, of a bituminous appearance, and with white sand grains imbedded in the clay. The tiles are heavy and of a uniform and well-tempered clay, free from lime, and with a certain amount of sand in it. Their colour varies—bright red, flesh-coloured, and yellow-red; at Castleshaw the tiles are very light and of a pale straw colour. The size of the flanged tiles from the tile tomb at Great Jackson Street is 20 by 16 by 2½ inches.

The flanged tiles are of seven or eight distinct forms, as far as the bevelled flanges are concerned, and of different width and height. They may belong to different periods.

At Gaythorn I found two types which differ from the rest. They are of a blueish colour, very heavy, and more like stoneware, and possess a metallic ring. The tiles are also found scored at right angles or diagonally. Checkered floor tiles are rare here; only one was found by me. At Melandra they are rather common.

—I have a fragment of light brown colour, rather light in weight, and moulded. It comes from the upper part and is too small to make out details of its particular form.

—Of these various have been found ¾ inch thick and probably 8 inches in diameter.