Glen Manor House
Slate Roof Restoration - Portsmouth, Rhode Island
Glen Manor House sits along the edge of the Sakonnet River, a sweeping French chateau completed in 1923 for the Taylor family and designed by John Russell Pope, whose portfolio includes the Jefferson Memorial and the National Gallery of Art. The estate’s long façade, limestone detailing, and formal gardens give it a presence unlike any other property in Portsmouth. Its rooflines, copper accents, and carved millwork were crafted to mirror European country estates, making preservation work both technically demanding and historically sensitive.
Slate & Copper Services was entrusted with restoring several exterior components that had begun to show the effects of coastal weather and nearly a century of service. The project focused on slate roof rehabilitation, custom copper fabrication, and select restoration of historic wood roofing and siding elements. Glen Manor’s architecture required a measured approach: every repair had to blend seamlessly into the original design, maintaining the estate’s symmetry and the craftsmanship that defines Pope’s work.
Unlike smaller historic homes, Glen Manor’s scale introduces unique challenges. Long roof runs, complex valleys, and ornamental copper details demand precision and an understanding of early‑20th‑century construction methods. Our team approached the estate with a preservation mindset — salvaging original slate where possible, fabricating copper components to match historic profiles, and using installation techniques suited to the building’s era. The goal was simple: reinforce the structure without altering the character that makes Glen Manor one of Rhode Island’s most celebrated waterfront estates.
Working on landmark properties throughout coastal Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts has shaped our approach to historic roofing, architectural sheet metal, and preservation carpentry. Glen Manor exemplifies the type of project where those disciplines converge — a building that demands respect for its architectural lineage and technical fluency in traditional materials.
Through careful assessment, historically appropriate materials, and craftsmanship rooted in preservation, Slate & Copper Services helped ensure that Glen Manor House continues to stand as a defining piece of Rhode Island’s architectural heritage.