The name pantiles originally referred to a form of tile used in paving. Today the name is most often used to refer to an area in the town of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England which formerly used such tiling.
The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells
Formerly known as The Walks and the (Royal) Parade.
Pantiles are defined by dictionaries as roofing tiles, S-shaped in section. It seems that the use of pantiles for paving in Tunbridge Wells is unusual if not unique.
Most of the Pantiles is listed: mostly built early to mid 19th century. No.7 is c.1660; 39-41 was formerly the Gloster Tavern; The Corn Exchange and Royal Victoria Hotel are both early 19th century.
The Pantiles, Engraving - collection: Ian Myers courtesy: http://uk.geocities.com/rtwhistory
The Pantiles and Tunbridge Wells itself, owe their beginnings to the discovery of the Chalybeate Spring in the early 17th century and the popularity of the spa water amongst the gentry and royalty of Georgian England.
Richard Beau Nash, a dandy of the day made it his business to ensure that this protocol was adhered to by acting as a kind of Master of Ceremonies during 'the season' in Tunbridge Wells and in the town's rival, Bath.
The Spring situated at the northern end of the Pantiles still flows, and the reputedly health-giving water is served in the summer months by a traditional 'Dipper'.
Pantiles are not to be confused with Roman tiles, which differ in profile.
Substitution with concrete pantiles, profiled steel decking or plain tiles is undesirable as, generally, is replacement of handmade pantiles with machine-pressed ones (or vice-versa).
Depending on circumstances, replacement pantiles can be mixed with old ones across the roof or reserved for less prominent slopes.With patch repairs, carefully-sourced second-hand pantiles give a better fit than new ones.
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