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John Williams & Company (Contracting) Ltd is a family-run roofing and building maintenance contractor based at Lympne, near Hythe in Kent. The business traces its establishment to 1870 and specialises in traditional pitched roofing, including historic Kent peg tiles, natural slates, clay plain tiles, roof leadwork and timber shingles. Its approach combines long-established roofing skills with appropriate contemporary systems when these suit the building and the specified project.
The company works on historic and traditionally constructed buildings as well as private houses, schools, civic buildings and other properties. Its published history includes work at nationally significant sites such as Tower Bridge, St James’s Palace, the British Museum, Rochester Cathedral and Portchester Castle. Project involvement varies; the precise scope of individual commissions should be confirmed before being described in greater detail.
Kent peg tiling is one of the firm’s most distinctive areas of expertise. Traditional handmade peg tiles contribute to the colour, texture and irregular character of historic Kent roofs. Their varied dimensions and surface characteristics demand particular care when selecting replacement tiles, establishing the gauge, forming bonds and accurately executing junctions.
The firm undertakes peg-tile repairs, reroofing and restoration, including work with reclaimed materials where appropriate. Its experience extends to shaped and complex roofs, valleys, hips, verges, swept abutments and other details characteristic of Kent’s historic cottages, farm buildings and country houses. Traditional construction methods are considered alongside the durability and weathering performance of the finished roof.
The company’s published technical account addresses traditional timber laths, peg fixings, the historical use of mortar torching and the particular demands of small handmade tiles. It also stresses the transmission of craft knowledge to younger roofers, supporting the continuity of a locally distinctive building tradition.
John Williams & Company provides natural slate roofing repair, replacement and renewal, together with services involving modern composite slates where appropriate. The business has a longstanding association with slating, reflected in its published work at prominent historic buildings and more ordinary residential roofs.
Slate conservation requires attention to the size, thickness, type and weathering properties of the material, the condition of fixings and battens, the roof pitch, and the arrangement of ridges, verges, valleys and abutments. The objective in sensitive projects is to retain serviceable material where practicable and make carefully specified repairs that maintain the visual and technical character of the roof.
The company publishes a slate manual and identifies the importance of traditional craft methods alongside the needs of modern buildings.
The business has specialist leadworkers undertaking flat lead roofs, runout gutters, flashings, cladding and ornamental details. Traditional leadwork is particularly relevant to complex historic roof geometries, churches, castles, prominent public buildings and masonry junctions requiring durable weather protection.
Its website records membership of the Lead Contractors Association since 1986 and training undertaken by its leadworkers through the Lead Sheet Training Academy. The LCA currently lists John Williams & Co as a member serving the South East. The firm also identifies work on buildings such as Rochester Cathedral, Guildford Castle and Saltwood Castle.
Appropriate lead detailing considers sheet dimensions, expansion and contraction, supports, fixings, drainage, movement joints and the conservation requirements of adjoining historic materials. Design and installation should follow the applicable technical guidance and the particular demands of each building.
John Williams & Company provides bespoke ornamental lead casting using traditional sand-mould techniques. The firm describes producing cast lead features such as decorative plaques, hoppers, vents and other individual architectural components.
Sand casting allows a formed template to be reproduced as a cast detail, including some fine surface textures and decorative features. This work can be relevant to heritage repair, replacement of missing ornamental elements and sympathetic architectural commissions.
Bespoke cast elements should be specified with attention to the existing architectural detail, historical evidence, fixing arrangements and the required finish.
Traditional oak and cedar shingles and shakes are another defined company specialism. The firm records projects involving church spires in Kent and the South East, including St Peter and St Paul’s Church at Dymchurch, All Saints’ Church at West Stourmouth and St Michael’s Church at East Peckham.
Shingle roofs require knowledge of the timber species, sizes and profiles, pitch, laps, fixings, ventilation and treatment of exposed edges. In ecclesiastical and other historic settings, the profile and texture of the completed covering must be carefully considered.
Where timber coverings are replaced or repaired, the aim should be to safeguard the architectural appearance while providing a suitable long-term weatherproof covering.
Alongside Kent peg tiles, the business installs and repairs clay and concrete plain-tile roofs. Its published examples encompass traditional terraced houses, schools and substantial private country homes.
The choice of covering depends on roof pitch and loading, architectural character, local planning constraints and any heritage significance of existing roof materials. The company can provide traditional pitched roof renewal and repairs as part of wider maintenance or refurbishment projects.
The company also undertakes traditional multi-layer built-up felt roofing and Dryseal fibreglass-based roof coverings. Hambleside Danelaw lists John Williams & Company among its approved Dryseal contractors.
Its published flat-roofing service includes dormers, garages, school buildings and civic properties. Modern materials may be appropriate for less sensitive locations or where they can be designed without compromising significant historic features; suitability must be established for each project.
John Williams & Company operates a building maintenance and renovation service that complements its roofing operations. The website identifies chimney repairs and reconstruction, brickwork, roofing-related carpentry, rendering and plaster repair among these activities.
These services can help coordinate interventions where water ingress or roof deterioration affects chimneys, parapets, supporting timberwork or nearby masonry. Conservation repair should be based on the condition and significance of the existing construction and should avoid unnecessary removal of sound historic fabric.
The company identifies work over its long history at Tower Bridge, St James’s Palace, the British Museum, Rochester Cathedral and Portchester Castle. Its slate roofing information additionally names the Ritz Hotel, while its leadwork page cites Guildford Castle and Saltwood Castle.
The oak and cedar shingling page names St Peter and St Paul’s Church in Dymchurch, All Saints’ Church in West Stourmouth and St Michael’s Church in East Peckham as examples of ecclesiastical work. These references demonstrate experience across major heritage sites and smaller historic properties; exact project dates and activities should be checked against the firm’s records before publication of individual case studies.
Effective roof conservation begins with identifying what is historically important and why a covering or detail is deteriorating. The appropriate response may range from local repair and selective replacement to full renewal where justified by condition and performance.
Traditional craftsmanship is important because the geometry and materials of older roofs often cannot be addressed satisfactorily through generic methods. The company highlights the transmission of practical skills across generations and reports that its craftspeople hold CSCS Heritage registration cards.
Repair strategies should consider material compatibility, roof ventilation, drainage, safe access, the condition of battens and structural timbers, and any relevant listed building or conservation-area permissions. Work to vulnerable historic fabric should be developed with an appropriately qualified conservation professional when necessary.
John Williams & Company (Contracting) Ltd is listed in the TrustMark directory under licence 255622, with the National Federation of Roofing Contractors identified as the scheme provider. Its published history records longstanding NFRC involvement and the attainment of CompetentRoofer registration in 2011.
The current Lead Contractors Association membership directory lists John Williams & Co serving the South East. The company also reports specialist leadworker training at the Lead Sheet Training Academy. Hambleside Danelaw includes the business in its approved Dryseal contractor directory.
Formal company accreditations and individual craft qualifications should be distinguished. Any award, scheme badge, qualification or insurance declaration should be checked for current validity before inclusion in the published service listing.
The principal service area stated on the company website is Kent, East Sussex and South East London. The firm is based at The Yard, Stone Street, Lympne, Hythe, Kent CT21 4LD.
Contact John Williams & Company by telephone on 01303 265198 or email info@johnwilliamsroofing.co.uk. Its website is www.johnwilliamsroofing.co.uk. The company invites enquiries regarding traditional roofing, leadwork and related repair projects.
Historic roof coverings are both weathering systems and important components of architectural character. Their conservation calls for knowledge of regional building traditions, the behaviour of natural materials and the detailing required to keep a roof serviceable over time.
John Williams & Company brings together its longstanding experience of Kent peg tiling, slate roofs, leadwork and timber shingling with practical building repair capability. These complementary skills make the firm relevant to owners of historic houses, churches, schools and other buildings requiring careful roofing work.
| Services & Expertise | |
|---|---|
| Principal Areas of Work: | Heritage Roofing, Kent Peg Tiling, Traditional Clay Tile Roofing, Natural Slate Roofing, Composite Slate Roofing, Lead Roofing, Historic Leadwork, Lead Cladding, Ornamental Leadwork, Traditional Lead Casting, Oak Shingle Roofing, Cedar Shingle Roofing, Church Spire Roofing, Historic Roof Restoration, Listed Building Roofing, Plain Tiling, Concrete Tile Roofing, Flat Roofing, Dryseal Fibreglass Roofing, Traditional Felt Roofing, Roof Repairs and Maintenance, Traditional Building Repairs, Chimney Restoration, Historic Brickwork Repairs, Carpentry, Rendering and Plaster Repairs |
| Capabilities and Specialisms: | Kent Peg Tile Conservation, Traditional Peg Tile Roof Repairs, Handmade Clay Tile Installation, Reclaimed Peg Tile Matching, Historic Roof Retiling, Peg Tile Bond and Gauge Setting, Traditional Roof Lathing, Historic Roofing Detail Repairs, Swept Valleys, Laced Valleys, Bonnet Hip Tiling, Curved and Conical Roof Tiling, Oast House Roof Repairs, Natural Slate Roof Restoration, Slate Replacement and Matching, Traditional Slate Fixing, Pitched Roof Repairs, Plain Tile Roof Renewal, Clay and Concrete Roof Tiling, Specialist Lead Sheet Roofing, Lead Flat Roofs, Lead Runout Gutters, Lead Flashings and Soakers, Lead Cladding, Lead Aprons, Decorative Leadwork, Sand-Cast Lead Plaques, Ornamental Lead Castings, Bespoke Lead Hoppers, Leadwork Weathering and Repair, Oak Shingle Roof Repairs, Cedar Shingle Roofing, Historic Church Spire Shingling, Timber Shakes, Traditional Felt Roofing, Dryseal GRP Roof Coverings, Flat Roof Renewal, Roof Covering Repairs, Historic Chimney Rebuilding, Chimney Flashing Repairs, Traditional Brickwork Repairs, Roof-Related Carpentry, Render Repairs, Plaster Repairs, Heritage Building Maintenance, Listed Building Roof Repair Coordination, Conservation-Sensitive Roof Restoration |
| Accreditations, Certifications & Memberships : | National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) – Established Member, Lead Contractors Association (LCA) – Listed Member, TrustMark Registered Business – Licence 255622, Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) Heritage Cards – Company-Reported Operative Credentials, Lead Sheet Training Academy – Company-Reported Operative Training, CompetentRoofer – Historical Company Accreditation, Hambleside Danelaw Dryseal – Approved Contractor Listing, NFRC UK Roofing Awards 2020 – Finalist |
| Accreditation & Membership Details: | John Williams & Company (Contracting) Ltd is independently listed on the TrustMark register under licence number 255622, with the National Federation of Roofing Contractors identified as its scheme provider. The Lead Contractors Association's current membership directory lists John Williams & Co in the South East with a Good grading. The company reports Lead Contractors Association membership dating from 1986 and specialist training through the Lead Sheet Training Academy. The firm's published heritage information states that its craftspeople hold CSCS Heritage registration cards. These credentials should be checked for the relevant personnel before representing them as current. Its company history also records the attainment of CompetentRoofer registration in 2011 and recognises a longstanding NFRC membership. Hambleside Danelaw independently lists the business as an approved Dryseal system contractor. |
| Geographical Areas Covered: | Kent, East Sussex, South East London, Lympne, Hythe, Folkestone, Ashford, Canterbury, Dover, Deal, Romney Marsh, Maidstone, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks, Medway, Rochester, Greater London by Arrangement, Historic Building Projects Elsewhere by Arrangement |
| Contact & Online Presence | |
| Contact(s): | John Howland |
| Email: | info@johnwilliamsroofing.co.uk |
| Business Details & Assurance | |
| Company Trading Name: | John Williams & Company (Contracting) Limited |
| Company Number: | 04960155 |
| Publication & Verification | |
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