Tile Cutting Works

[Sellergarth]

Hello all,

Whilst undertaking some local research I found a reference in the 1901 census to a lady who was described as a `Tile Cutting Works Proprietress`. Does anyone have any idea what sort of tiles this refers too please and why would an individual not be able to cut their own tiles?
Hope you can help.

Thank you.

[Old_Geezer]

Pure guess, maybe they were cutting tiles for sale out of a large sheet of material ?

[buildersmate]

It is cutting the tiles for the geometric patterns used in Victorian domestic and public buildings floors. These were laid edge to edge without grout strips between. The tile firing process did not enable all tiles to be made square and accurate enough without cutting to size.

[buildersmate]

DIY was not created until the 1950s. You had a man to do every trade-type task.

[Old_Geezer]

Ah that makes sense, although I imagined the tile layer would be doing the filing/cutting/fitting on the job. Something else I've learnt.

[buildersmate]

I don't know for sure why tiles weren't cut on site, OG, that part is a guess. Except that with only hand tools on site, cutting ceramic would be no fun, and the precision required can obviously be replicated at a factory.

[Sellergarth]

Many thanks to Old_Geezer and buildersmate for clarifying things, it`s greatly appreciated.