From London rooftops to mountain quarries: My experience with the NSA/SRCA UK trip

By Megan Ellsworth.  

Discovering the legacy and longevity of slate roofing in the U.K. 

There are some trips that leave you inspired both professionally and personally, and my recent journey to the United Kingdom with the National Slate Association (NSA) and Slate Roofing Contractors Association (SRCA) was exactly that. From walking the streets of London to standing deep inside a historic slate quarry in England’s Lake District, the experience gave me a whole new appreciation for the craftsmanship, history and community behind slate roofing. 

The trip centered around attending the NFRC Awards, hosted by the National Federation of Roofing Contractors. The awards ceremony brought together some of the most talented roofing professionals in the United Kingdom and showcased the incredible work being done across the industry. It was inspiring to see how much pride contractors take in preserving traditional roofing methods while still embracing innovation and modern building practices. A main highlight for me during the awards was seeing the green roofing finalists. I look forward to that trend becoming more prevalent in the states because it is such a beautiful roofing system. The winner of that award was SAFESEAL Roofing LTD for their work on the Chester Zoo, check it out here! 

One of the most exciting parts of the trip was having the opportunity to connect with roofing professionals through RoofersCoffeeShop.uk. Throughout the week, I met contractors, manufacturers and industry leaders who were incredibly welcoming and passionate about their work. Even though roofing practices can differ between the United States and the U.K., the sense of community felt very familiar. Conversations about craftsmanship, workforce development, industry challenges and pride in quality work transcended borders. 

Beyond the networking and events, one of the most unforgettable experiences was visiting the Burlington Stone quarry, owned by the Holker Group. Seeing where slate roofing materials originate completely changed my perspective on slate as a roofing product. Standing inside the quarry and watching the process firsthand was incredible. We were able to see how slate is mined, split and prepared for roofing tiles using techniques that combine generations of tradition with modern precision. I even got to split some slate roofing pieces myself!  

The scale of the operation was impressive, but what stood out most was the respect everyone had for the material itself. Slate roofing is not just another roofing system; it is craftsmanship rooted in geology, history and longevity. Learning about the durability and natural beauty of slate directly from the people who extract and produce it made me appreciate why slate roofs can last well over a century when installed properly.  

The quarry! 

This is inside their plant, cutting the slate into smaller pieces to start creating building materials from it.  

We loved seeing this on the plant floor, safety always comes first! 

Our favorite part was seeing how the roof tiles are made!  

John Chan from Durable Slate Company holding a 200-year-old slate roofing tile! 

The coolest part of the entire trip was realizing just how much history is literally sitting above your head everywhere you go in the U.K. As we toured places like Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, I could not stop staring at the roofs. So many of the slate roofs we saw were well over 100 years old, and some even older than that, which honestly blew my mind. We had the honor of touring Haulker Hill House, which has been in the Cavendish family for generations; we all enjoyed marveling at the ornate slate roof and lead and copper finishes.  

Slate roofs are everywhere! This was in Cumbria, England near the Burlington Quarry.  

Coming from the roofing industry, you hear people talk about slate longevity all the time, but seeing these massive historic buildings still protected by beautiful slate systems after centuries of harsh rain and weather made it feel real in a completely different way. It gave me a much deeper appreciation for the craftsmanship that goes into slate roofing and why it has remained such an important part of architecture throughout the U.K. and Europe for generations. Everywhere we went, from London to Scotland, the roofs themselves felt like part of the storytelling, and I found myself constantly looking up. 

What I walked away with most from this trip was gratitude. Gratitude for the opportunity to learn, to represent the roofing community internationally and to build relationships with people who care deeply about the industry. The roofing world may seem large, but experiences like this make it feel surprisingly connected. 

This U.K. trip reinforced something I already believed: roofing is more than construction. It is storytelling, craftsmanship, preservation and community all rolled into one. I am incredibly thankful to the Slate Roofing Contractors Association, the team at RoofersCoffeeShop.uk and everyone we met along the way for making this experience unforgettable.