History

In 1993, Alastair and Mary-Anne Robb had to sell their wonderful home in Wiltshire to release much-needed capital into the family business, Marlborough Tiles. This was due to the on-going recession of the early 1990s. Fortunately, the house that they owned at that time - Chisenbury Priory - was snapped up within the first few days of it being on the market, thus enabling a swift move to Somerset, where house prices were lower. Having never thought they would have to move again, they discovered Cothay and the rest is, as they say, “history”.

Alastair’s eldest son Jamie runs Marlborough Tiles, which is now in its 76th year of family ownership. Having survived successive recession after recession, through shear grit, passion and determination, Marlborough is now the leading manufacturer of Hand Painted tiles in the world, exporting to over 40 countries. Passionate about their product, Marlborough uses traditional techniques, the most wonderful wide range of colour, and a wealth of design experience, and is extremely proud to be one of the few remaining producers of tiles in England today. www.marlboroughtiles.com

We are a creative family - although my father always joked ‘late developers’. We have ancestors who were designers and manufacturers on both sides, namely Matthew Boulton, the Birmingham entrepreneur, and Sir Charles Barry who designed many gardens, and who also won a competition for the redesign for the reconstruction of the Palace of Westminster. Creation and design runs strongly through our genes; there is definitely no escaping that.

It is extraordinary looking back how fate plays its hand. My parents wouldn’t be here but for the 1990s recession. I will always remember my father saying to me “out of a crisis comes opportunity”, and my husband and I probably would not be here but for Country House Rescue.

We look forward to meeting you at Cothay one day, where you will see the influences of many hands from history, working and weaving their magic; most recently of course, the work of sympathetic hands and the creative magic of my parents, Mary-Anne and Alastair Robb.

Charlie Campbell