Group Of Summer Drying Sheds At William Blyth Hoe Hill Yard

The group of summer drying sheds at William Blyth Hoe Hill Yard dates from the late 19th century, with some possible rebuilding in the early 20th century. These sheds feature open timber construction on quarry-tile post pads and have pantile roofs. There are eight long open sheds arranged in a row to the south of the office and lobby. They are built using a simple timber technique and provide open shelving for tiles formed in a movable machine that can be wheeled along the passageways. The tiles are stored in these sheds until they are ready to be moved to the kiln. Historical maps, including the 1908 Ordnance Survey map and an earlier 20th-century aerial photo, show that these sheds have been in the same location since at least that time. This group of sheds is part of a significant industrial complex, which, along with the associated Blyth yard at Ings, is the only remaining tilery on the Humber Bank that produces handmade roof tiles using traditional methods, and possibly the only one in the country. The entire tile-making process can be observed here, from the mill house that processes the clay, through the drying sheds for storing the formed tiles, to the kiln for firing them, along with the office and lobby for the site foreman and kiln supervisors.