28/5/2011
I joined Sue Mulroy for a firing in her wood kiln at Blackwell Farm Life Centre above the Derbyshire Dales. Sue built a fast fire kiln from Ray Finch’s design with help from an Arts Council Grant in 2006. A typical firing lasts around 14 hours.
We discussed methods of keeping smoke to a minimum. Sue had noticed that with care and observation it was possible to keep the kiln in reduction with no smoke from the chimney. The problem with her kiln however is that a lot of smoke escapes from the stoke holes every time wood is put on. This should not be the case with the Sasukenei, which has a vertical ‘bourry box’ fire chamber with a secondary air inlet in the roof. If we use well fitting doors, smoke loss at stoking could be prevented. Penny Withers
On May 18th Sarah and I had a meeting with Mike Brooke the architect at Green Estates. He needed information relating to the firing processes and the activities that would be carried out in the old stable block which has been allocated for the kiln. He built the information into a flow diagram, designing the space for efficiency and economy. Fortunately he already has a very impressive understanding of studio craft pottery because his father had been a potter following in the style of Bernard Leach. Our basic needs soon expanded into a full wish list.
Our next meeting put a rein on our dreams. We were joined by Sue France – Green Estates’ project manager, and Mir Jansen, who manages Yorkshire Artspace’s ceramic start-up and residency programmes. Budgets were an issue but it seems that everything is ok to go ahead and build the kiln. Work is due to start very soon on the structure of the stable block and surrounding buildings and we aim to have started on the kiln by October. This will fit in well with our expected visit to Denbigh during August. The Spring firing of the Sasukenei kiln had to be postponed because of the Frith’s visits to Japan and Europe. They are now busy preparing for ceramics fairs in June and July
