TACS Database of Ceramic Locations
The Tiles and Architectural Ceramics Society (TACS) is the national society responsible for the study and protection of tiles and architectural ceramics. Since its inception in 1981 it has done much to draw attention to the study of Britain’s rich heritage of tiles and architectural ceramics, including the staging in 1991 of Fired Earth, the largest and most comprehensive exhibition of European tiles ever seen in Britain. Through this exhibition, the continuing programme of TACS publications (the annual Journal and thrice-yearly Glazed Expressions) and frequent site visits TACS has disseminated information and encouraged and facilitated conservation and serious scholarship in the ceramics field.
In
addition, the continuing efforts of TACS members in recording sites
has resulted in the creation of the TACS Database of Ceramic
Locations, which has identified a huge array of tile and architectural
ceramic sites ranging over a wide variety of types. Around 6,000
examples of high quality tile and architectural ceramic work are
therefore already known and to a certain extent documented. This
will eventually be a comprehensive, computerised national database
of sites of tiles, terracotta and faience panels, architectural
detailing, and indeed whole buildings featuring these products.
No
previous attempt has been made to record systematically the entire
national ceramic heritage, from the Roman era up to and including
contemporary installations. There is an urgent need for an improved
information base concerning tile and architectural ceramic sites,
in order to facilitate research and site conservation. The Database
produced by 
this
project will be of great scholarly value and will also raise awareness
of tiles and architectural ceramics within the wider public and
industrial domains as well as in architectural and conservation
circles. It will be of both national and international significance
in relation to the history of the tile and ceramics industry. At
present the Database exists as a searchable list (contact
TACS for more details), but should be available from this gateway
page later in 2006 in the form of a fully searchable database. Watch
this space for further details.