Medieval ; Fourteenth Century Alphabet Tile ; Nottingham School, c.1350.

Medieval ; Fourteenth Century Alphabet Tile ; Nottingham School, c.1350.

This seemingly enigmatic medieval floor tile with its Lombardic script does in fact depict the alphabet ; a design unique to the Nottinghamshire tilers of the fourteenth century.

So-called Nottingham alphabet tiles closely resemble horn books in their grid design and layout of letters on a single tile - Interestingly, in the case of our example, the stamp cutter has failed to reverse the design, making one have to read from right to left ; a idiosyncrasy often seen on these Nottingham tiles, and perhaps the result of an illiterate craftsman or careless apprentice.

It has been suggested that such inscribed tile designs found at monastic sites referenced literacy being associated with godliness - a notion promoted by the medieval church, and perhaps the symbolism behind these wonderful alphabet tiles.

Picture Two illustrates a complete alphabet tile found at the site of Holy Trinity Church, Hull ; built between 1320 - 1370.

Formerly with Sam Fogg and Jonathan Horne ; Published in ‘Pots and Tiles of the Middle Ages’ by Maureen Mellor.