Victorian Mosaic and Geometric Floor Tiles

Victorian floor tiles are the patterned clay floors found in the halls, porches and front paths of so many British houses built in the second half of the nineteenth century. Many combine geometric tiles, plain tiles of one colour made in shapes, with encaustic tiles, where the pattern is inlaid in coloured clay. True mosaic is different again, made from many small pieces set together. An original floor can usually be cleaned and kept, as long as you treat it gently and call in a specialist for real damage. This guide covers the history, how to tell the types apart, how to care for an original floor, and how to create a new mosaic floor in a period style.

A short history of Victorian tiled floors

Inlaid floor tiles were made in England in the Middle Ages, and Historic England notes that tile pavements were popular in high status buildings until the sixteenth century. The Victorian revival began with a patent. In 1830 Samuel Wright of Staffordshire registered a method of pressing tiles using a plaster mould with the pattern carved into it, set in a metal frame and worked by a screw press.

Herbert Minton acquired rights to the patent and, according to Building Conservation, had the resources and tenacity to make the process a commercial success. Working with the architect Augustus Pugin, he was producing tiles in up to six colours by 1844, and his firm made around 75,000 tiles for the Palace of Westminster between 1847 and 1852. Minton remains the name most often found on the back of original encaustic tiles.

Chamberlain and Co of Worcester also took a share in Wright's patent, and its tile business passed to Maw and Co. The Ironbridge Gorge Museums record that Maw and Co was founded by George and Arthur Maw at Benthall, Broseley, in Shropshire, and grew into one of the world's largest decorative tile makers by the late nineteenth century. Its works dominated Jackfield, now home to the Jackfield Tile Museum.

Tiled floors became widespread from the 1860s and were a standard feature of new homes by the 1890s, laid in halls, porches, garden paths, churches and public buildings.

Geometric, encaustic or mosaic, how to tell them apart

• Geometric tiles are plain clay tiles of a single colour, made in shapes such as squares, hexagons and octagons. The pattern comes from how the shapes are arranged, and the colour runs right through each tile.
• Encaustic tiles carry a pattern made by inlaying clays of different colours into the body of the tile. Most are in two colours, though some use as many as six. Look for a motif contained within each tile. Encaustic tiles are often laid alongside geometric tiles in the same floor.
• Mosaic is built from many small pieces, or tesserae, of ceramic, stone, marble or glass, set together to form a pattern or picture. The pieces are much smaller than geometric tiles, so the joints sit far closer together.

A quick test helps. If the pattern sits within a tile rather than across several, it is encaustic. If every tile is one colour, it is geometric.

Caring for an original floor

Historic England advises that most old domestic floor tiles are robust enough for the low level of chemicals in ordinary cleaning products, but a little care goes a long way.

Cleaning

• Pre wet the tiles before cleaning, so the product does not soak too deeply into the surface.
• Use a pH neutral detergent on glazed tiles, and test any method on a hidden area first.
• Never use wire wool or hard abrasives. The Tiles and Architectural Ceramics Society suggests a green nylon scourer for stubborn dirt.
• Do not over wet the floor. Too much water can loosen tiles and bring salts to the surface.
• Do not use solvents on paint or tar splashes, which can drive the stain further into the tile.

Sealing

Never use beeswax or linseed oil as a protective coating, a warning given by both Historic England and the Tiles and Architectural Ceramics Society. The Society also warns that moisture absorbed into a tiled floor from below cannot escape if a covering does not allow it to evaporate. Building Conservation suggests that an acrylic sealer or polish is perhaps the best option today, because it is easy to apply and can be removed later. Ask a specialist before you seal anything.

When to call a specialist

Call one in if tiles are loose, lifting or tenting, if there are cracks running across the floor, if salts keep appearing, or if tiles are missing. Building Conservation estimates that around nine in ten damaged floors can be repaired, but any movement in the base has to be dealt with first. Historic England recommends a specialist conservator with professional accreditation, and if your home is listed, work may need listed building consent. Zavoré does not restore Victorian tiled floors, so for repairs we would always point you to a tile conservator.

New mosaic floors in a period style

If your hall has lost its original floor, or you want the same character in a kitchen, porch or bathroom, a new mosaic floor is one way to bring it back. Mosaic lets you echo Victorian layouts without copying them tile for tile.

• Border and field. A patterned border around a calmer central area suits a long hall and translates well into mosaic.
• A threshold panel. A bespoke mosaic just inside the front door can carry a house name, a number, a monogram or a motif.
• A period palette. Deep reds, buff, black and white, with touches of blue or green, sit comfortably in a Victorian or Edwardian house.

Zavoré designs bespoke mosaics, including patterns, pictures and lettering, supplies ready made mosaics, and installs both, including mosaics you have bought elsewhere.

Questions we get asked

What is the difference between encaustic and geometric tiles?

Geometric tiles are a single colour and the pattern comes from their shapes. Encaustic tiles have a pattern inlaid in coloured clay within each tile.

Should I seal my Victorian tiled floor?

Not with beeswax or linseed oil. A removable acrylic sealer is one option, but it is best to take specialist advice first, especially if the floor shows signs of damp or salts.

Can you restore my original Victorian floor?

No. We design, supply and install mosaic, but we do not restore original tiled floors. A specialist tile conservator is the right person for that.

Can you make a new mosaic floor that suits a Victorian house?

Yes. We can design a bespoke mosaic with a border, a threshold panel or lettering, and install it across the UK.

Where to go next. See bespoke and ready made options on our mosaics page, read about the Roman mosaics that inspired so many later floors, or our guide to Victorian, Georgian and Edwardian coving. For ideas on finishing the walls above, see Venetian plaster for hallways and stairs, or contact us, call or WhatsApp 07592 929191, or email support@zavore.co.uk.