We are extremely proud to have completed this project for the iconic House of Marbles, a much loved local landmark that is both a delightful tourist destination and a highly prominent business within our community. Known for its traditional toy manufacturing, handmade glass marbles, and live glass-blowing demonstrations, it is a place filled with character, craft and heritage.
House of Marbles holds a deeply personal significance for us. Alex has extremely fond memories of visiting here since childhood, and it has been a place we’ve returned to time and time again over the years. To be entrusted with work on such a meaningful and nostalgic building made this project exceptionally special.
We approached the work with the utmost care, ensuring that only the best of our skills and attention to detail were applied throughout. The existing Welsh grey slates were unfortunately beyond salvage, so we carefully selected Canadian Glendyne slate to achieve the closest possible visual match while remaining mindful of cost considerations.
The roof was finished with a Code 6 lead ridge and hips, paired with a modern cast-iron-effect aluminium rainwater system to balance traditional aesthetics with long-term performance. The chimney was adorned with Code 6 milled lead, incorporating individually stepped flashings, and the chimney itself was repointed using lime mortar.
One of the most rewarding aspects of the project was being asked to design and install an ornamental slate feature on the front hip, clearly visible from the car park. We developed several design concepts, and the final choice was the boy throwing marbles, perfectly capturing the spirit and heritage of this unique site.
This was a truly spectacular project to be part of and one we are immensely proud to have completed.
