In 1828 Mr Elias Carter, citizen and upholsterer of Exeter, patented his invention for covering the roofs of buildings with cast-iron plates. The Western Times was enthusiastic in its support for the initiative:
"In point of economy, the cost will be less than one-half that of lead, whilst the formation is such, as not to be detrimentally acted upon by any change of temperature and its weight is 5lb, on the square foot less than that of a large rag slate. In simplicity of construction (which in all inventions ought to be the most valuable feature,) it certainly claims pre-eminent merits, three differently formed plates only being sufficient to complete a roof, and those require little or no skill in fixing. On the whole, we have little hesitation in saying, that its adoption will soon become general wherever durability, taste, and economy, are a desideratum. (My underlining.)
His tiles were used, in 1833, to roof St Leonards church and some were in place there for about forty years. They were used elsewhere and seem to have been a satisfactory form of roofing but they hardly bore out the confidence of The Western Times. There are still some of his iron roofs in existence.
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