When I was down in Cornwall with my family a year or so back we visited a wonderful little harbour to see the sail training ships based there:

http://www.cornish-mining.org.uk/sites/charles.htm

– the port had been developed significantly to serve the china clay industry, which even today is a major source of Cornish employment and wealth. This is kaolin, used in all kinds of applications, but made famous in Wedgwood pottery and similar uses.

http://www.wheal-martyn.com/chinaclayind.htm

Earthenware is typically fired in the kiln at around 1100 degrees C, compared to around 1250 for porcelain. There are lots of variants in practise, too:

http://www.heskethps.co.uk/clay/


There is a wealth of wonderful terminology specific to potting – here’s a sample!

http://www.cromartie.co.uk/glossary.htm

Mike, I suspect you could drum up a theme here!


Hope that’s interesting in various ways :)


~ Joe my-dad-had-two-kilns-in-the-garden thursday