Manufacturer: H. R. Johnson
 
Date of Manufacture: 1994
 
Type: Inlaid clay tiles in the gothic revival, neo-medieval style.
 
Description: 109 unused and uncut tiles with makers' marks and other factory marks including date of manufacture.
 
Design: Ordinal floral cross in two patterns
 
Pattern A
37 x red and buff
 
Pattern B
24 x red and buff,
29 x grey, red and buff,
14 x light blue, red and buff,
5 x dark blue, red and buff.
 
Colours: Dark blue, light blue, teal, terracotta red and buff
 
Dimensions (uncut): 7 1/4" x 7 1/4" x 1/2" (185 mm x 185 mm x 12 mm)
 
Condition: Good.  (see photos).
 
History: Pugin's extension of the building dates back to the 1840s when he also designed St Giles' church and St Giles' school for his paymaster, the Alton Towers-based Earl of Shrewsbury. The architect organised the demolition of the buildings, including The Sun Inn, to ensure the full height of St Giles' spire could be seen from the medieval market cross at the junction of Cross Street and High Street. Pugin wrote: "I will not let anything pass for Cheadle that is not the true thing. It must be perfection." For the next 130 years the Old Convent served a base for four different congregation of nuns. The Sisters of Charity of St Paul the Apostle moved out in 1971 and it is now a private dwelling. As a listed building renovations have required the use of original replacement materials and these tiles were left over (unused) from the last such renovation. H. R. Johnson of Tunstall manufactured these tiles in 1994 having taken over the business of Minton Hollins & Co (also Campbell, Maw and others) in 1968.