Heritage Open Day: This talk will look at the various types of ovens and kilns which were
used in our area for the firing of tableware, tiles and bricks, as well
as the calcining kilns used for the manufacture of flint and bone ash as
raw materials. The industry had grown complacent in its use of cheap and
easily-available coal as a fuel until the totally-unexpected great
London smog of December 1956 led to the introduction of the Clean Air
Act 1956, which required smokeless firing after a seven year transition
period. This was probably the gravest crisis which the ceramics industry
had had to face for at least a century.
There will also be opportunity to see exhibitions from a few other countries whose nationals use the Redemption Community Hub, focusing on architecture, food and faith.