1875 Tile Collections Catalogue

This special edition tile catalogue commemorates our remarkable milestone, a 150-year journey through decades of changing fashions, social scenes, political and economic transformations, as well as major events that changed the face of society as we know it today.

We began in 1875 as glass, lead and colour merchants, quickly growing into manufacturing fireplace surrounds and have since evolved into one of the premier UK tile distributors, retailers and more recently, tile manufacturers.

Evolving the Tile Business

Over the decades, our passion for surfaces has remained constant, even as styles, technologies and customer needs have changed. From the richly decorative tile trends of the Victorian era to today’s cutting-edge classic designs, such as that found in our chequerboard collection of tiles offering offer a timeless palette of muted colours and contrasted black and white tiles.
 

Historical tile designs...

As homes became more ornate and Victorian society became increasingly style-conscious, the fireplace transformed from a purely functional centrepiece into a symbol of status and taste. This shift gave rise to a growing demand for ceramic tiles, not just as a practical surface, but as a decorative art form.

Tiles became a canvas for pattern, colour and personality, reflecting the fashions of the age. Nicholls & Clarke evolved alongside this cultural movement, embracing the decorative potential of ceramics and helping to shape the interior styles of the period. The artisanal approach to tile designs allowed for designs to be ornate with an undulated finish, detailing hand made care and attention paid to each piece. Our Lume Collection adopts this trend, offering a quality, masterpiece with an opulent high gloss finish. 

Changing manufacturing processes, technology and societal trends mean that today, tiles utilise the latest in inkjet printing with multi-faceted layers of technology to create incredible designs and textures. In the early Victorian period, fireplaces were typically made of cast iron or timber with minimal decoration. However, as design tastes evolved particularly during the late 1800s, there was a growing desire for ornamentation, colour and individual expression in domestic interiors. Ceramic tiles became a popular way to enhance fireplace surrounds, offering both heat resistance and visual richness.

With evolution comes changing tastes and a landscapes that sees technological enhancements at play. Our award winning N&C Backlit Stone Collection uses the latest in inkjet technology to offer a wall and floor porcelain collection that immitates a truly backlit stone effect collection. 

The 1875 Tile Catalogue

This catalogue not only showcases some of our current tile collections, featuring our award-winning collection (Wall Tile of the Year), but it also celebrates the history, heritage and craftsmanship that brought us here. As we reflect on our legacy and look ahead to the future, we thank you for being part of the journey.

Explore our story of evolution translated in these stunning tile ranges, that have shaped the last 150 years of Nicholls & Clarke.