Why was this made, and how was it used?
The Chertsey Abbey held a significant role to that of English kings. King John, recorded by museum sources, was a routine visitor. John's son, King Henry III, held court in the Chertsey Abbey in the year of 1217. The king held a discourse on how to manage the King of France's Council which would be arriving in England soon. Edward III also visited the Abbey frequently.
Fun Fact: When workmen came upon a concrete floor on which the decorative tiles were set, many of them were either stolen or broken into pieces to prevent builders from spending extraneous time admiring the tiles.
The Chertsey tiles were discovered to have been scattered in different locations around Surrey. From St. Ann’s Hill to Buckinghamshire, these tiles were excavated from different locations as well. All of these tiles didn’t stem directly from the Abbey, but similarities between those in the Hailes, Gloucestershire, and Halesowen Abbey speak of a clouded past.