14 CONTEXT 185 : SEPTEMBER 2025 MADELEINE CLARK Understanding pitched roofs Retaining our beautiful and distinctive roofscapes depends on understanding the function and design of pitched roof coverings, and the management of rainwater and vapour. At the most basic level, the purpose of a roof is to keep a building and its occupants safe and protected from the weather elements, acting as the hat that keeps a property dry. Roof coverings, alongside rainwater disposal goods and weather detailing, have a key role to play as the first line of defence. Different roofing materials are shaped, applied and utilised in different ways to better manage rainwater and snow, and withstand wind. As moisture ingress is the primary cause of decay in any traditional property, this functionality has always been a priority. Craftspeople have therefore focused their skills and adapted components accordingly, from stone gargoyles spouting water away from churches and towers, to lead flashings and drip detailing. The form and function of roof coverings originally developed according to the materials that were available locally – stone slabs, slates, clay tiles and various types of gathered or grown thatching material. All roof coverings of interlocking units like these, act in unison to create a barrier to the wind and buffer moisture, but each with its own nuances when it comes to application. Regional variations developed according to what resources were available, the inherent material properties and the prevailing weather conditions of the locality. The development of rail and canal infrastructure allowed for easier movement of slates and pantiles. This gradually brought more homogeneity to roofs throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, but the general principles around detailing for the shedding of water remain the same. Common pitched roof coverings in Scotland Slate roofing Slating styles vary widely due to different properties of the locally quarried materials and the slating traditions in each area. Typically, slated roofs in Scotland tend to have a steep pitch, around 40 degrees, which can accommodate relatively small, thicker slates and can also better handle wind-driven rain and snow. Slaters made the most of this, and maximised the volume of usable slate quarried, through the distinctive A gargoyle on Melrose Abbey (Photo: Crown Copyright, HES) Slate repairs (Photo: Historic Environment Scotland) Stirling skyline (Photo: Madeleine Clark)
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