In northern Europe, the first tiles were made during the Middle Ages. During the thirteenth century, magnificent mosaic floors made of lead-glazed tiles were laid in the abbey churches of Fountains, Byland and Rievaulx in North Yorkshire and monastic establishments throughout northern Europe became important patrons of this type of floor tile.

The greatest innovation in medieval tile-making was the production of so-called 'two colour' tiles that consisted of inserting white-coloured clay into the red clay of the tile body. After glazing, the white clay became yellow and the red clay turned a deep red-brown. Such tiles were decorated with a range of simplified floral patterns, figurative designs and religious images, and were used to create stunning floors in churches, royal palaces and houses of the well-to-do.