Redemption Community Hub, Herbert Minton Building, 79 London Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 7QE

A talk looking at the various types of ovens and kilns which were used in our area for the firing of tableware, tiles and bricks, and 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 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.

Booking: not required

Website: rccglivingwater.org/general-4