Broken end hip tile

[bricks]

I've just been looking at my clay tiled roof and noticed that the end hip tile, the one next to the hook at the bottom of the roof, has broken. A triangular piece about 5 inches long at the bottom is missing revealing the square ended thing under it (is this wood?). Does this hip tile need replacing soon?

[The Builder]

yep ....... best not to leave it too long Bricks ........ the exposed hip rafter would rot out eventually.
Oh ...... and the hook thingy is called a hip iron ,,,, :o))))))

[bricks]

Turns out that what an end hip tile is supposed to look like. Anyhow I had a roofer look at my roof as I had a few loose tiles as well and he found that the end hip was loose as was the hook that was there to hold the hip tiles in place when they were 1st put on. So he got cleaned of the tile and reseated which has also firmed up the seating of the hook, that was lose but noy loose enough to remove.