Blog

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As winter draws on, we have been spending some time reflecting on the exciting times in the summer of 2024, when our team constructed a replica Roman-style kiln in the heart of Highgate Wood.

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With our partners at Friends of Highgate Roman Kiln (FoHRK) and Firing London's Imagination we built and fired this unique wood-fired kiln. In the run-up to the firing, we also put on a course for makers and people interested in local history that captured some of the essence of the history of craft in these magical woods.

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For those who don't know, nearly 2000 years ago, Highgate Wood was once home to a Roman Pottery manufacturing site, where dinnerware and storage vessels were made from local clay. During the event, we used the same clay as our ancient potter peers and had expert help to understand the archaeology of the site and what it told us about their practice. We were even entrusted to safeguard some 2000-year-old fragments of Roman pottery found in the woods so that we could learn from them. The forms of these pots and the way they were finished with specialty slips were quite beautiful and had things to teach us about the practical uses of our local materials.

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The construction and firing of the kiln was an exciting task in and of itself: we filled the kiln twice with around 300 Roman-style pots each time. We spent 12-13 hours firing the kiln to the maximum temperature, with wood sourced mainly from the woods, thanks to the fantastic grounds team in Highgate Woods. Our teachers took potters through processing the wild clay themselves, throwing historic shapes inspired by found relics and fragments, and taught them about the one-of-a-kind Roman kiln firing techniques. With expert guidance from Graham Taylor from Potted History, our team constructed the kiln in a historic fashion, from a mixture of earth and real Roman bricks. And we passed on this knowledge to those on our course during our “post-firing discussions” to fully immerse everyone involved in the exciting and challenging process of firing a Roman Kiln.

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It’s amazing how this style of firing can bring people together from so many different ceramic and historical backgrounds: from mudlarkers and geologists to historians and recreationists. Along with our friends at FoHRK, to whom none of this would have been possible without, we are excited to be running this course again in 2025, with more opportunities to get involved with the project and many more Roman pots to be made!

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It was a pleasure to speak with the BBC Radio 3 about the project, and we were delighted with their short documentary about it, “New Generation Thinkers: Clay and Collapse”. You can listen to it on the BBC website.

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Keep an eye on our socials for more news. There will be many opportunities to get involved with wild clay processing, historical pottery making, and Roman wood-firing at Turning Earth very soon.

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A new year, a new market! Turning Earth’s Ceramics Market is back at the Hoxton studio on the weekend of March 22nd and 23rd. With 80 talented makers (different each day) showcasing their handmade pottery, you’ll discover an array of beautifully crafted, one-of-a-kind pieces. With Mother’s Day just around the corner, it’s the ideal opportunity to pick up something truly special.

Throughout the weekend, you’ll be treated to live performances by Jimm, from the Jazz Cannibals, whose eclectic sound blends jazz, rap, trad, folk, reggae, sea shanty, punk, and funk—an unmissable soundtrack to your market experience.

Feeling peckish? Sourdough Daali, a micro-bakery and street food pop-up, will be serving up wood-fired sourdough pizzas alongside irresistible treats like cardamom banana bread and brown butter flapjacks. Meanwhile, Climpson & Sons will be on hand with expertly brewed barista coffee, soft drinks, and their signature Espresso Martini.

Sunday, March 23rd, brings an extra special guest—Victor Ng, a current participant on The Great Pottery Throw Down. He’ll be showcasing and selling his work, and if you’re lucky, he might share some behind-the-scenes stories from the show, including his proudest (and most disastrous) moments—like the time he built and decorated a boat… only for it to explode in the kiln! Originally from Canada, Victor discovered Turning Earth Hoxton after moving to London in 2021 and has been a dedicated maker ever since, with a passion for throwing delightfully wacky vases.

Also joining us on Sunday are makers from the East End Trades Guild, an alliance of 300 independent East London businesses and self-employed artisans. Their presence brings a diverse range of handmade goods beyond ceramics, all created with the same care and craftsmanship. The EETG works to protect and sustain local businesses, ensuring that London’s creative community continues to thrive.

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Join us for our upcoming Ceramics Markets: 4 days of handmade crafts, 200+ makers, live demos, festive food, music, and support for local artisans!

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More info

Heartbreak this month, we are losing a dear brother after 10 years of devoted service to the members and students of our Hoxton branch of Turning Earth. Giuseppe, all the way back in 2013, a wee stripling, straight out of University, was a founding team member and pioneer and has been with us from the day we fired our first kiln, until the last day of June this year. Now having matured into great sophistication and strength of character, an exemplary human, he has finally decided to embark on the next stage of his career. Dammit!

Giuseppe has been a workhorse in the studio and has championed its processes and smooth running from day one with a speedy, reliable zeal; He has a keen attention to detail, takes full personal responsibility for everything he touches, and has been a firm favourite among the Turning Earth members, with his wit and charm, and zero nonsense approach (they have even made him a blue plaque to commemorate his decade of ‘discipline and tough love’- which is now presiding on the wall of his old domain: the plaster area. On top of this, they whipped together a dazzlingly sizeable fund to support him through his transition stage).

He has helped spearhead the management of many of the Turning Earth sales and events and, not least, organise the mammoth move of the learning hub, from Cremer street to Laburnum street, a feat which in itself, was gargantuan, but given the circumstances that the whole organisation had been obliged to deal with, we wouldn't have been able to do it without him!

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In short, Giuseppe has embodied all of the values we strive for here at Turning Earth: Diligence, service, humour, excellence, care…; I could go on, and he has been a leader, a teacher and an inspiration for us all in this way. Indeed, these characteristics are a dream for anyone who has worked in, or had to hire a team, however, time is nigh, he says, to make it on his own, take the plunge, jump out of the familiar apron strings of the community that loves him- otherwise he’d be here for another 10 years, he says.. We wouldn’t complain about that!

Farewell then Giuseppe, we know that with such talents you will be a success in anything you choose to do; we don’t expect to be serving prized calves anytime soon. But these doors will always be open, should you need us.

You can see what this deserter is up to here: 

Instagram: giuseppeparrinelloceramics

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Turning Earth is recruiting final year ceramics students and recent graduates for its voluntary studio mentor programme.

Mentors provide regular on the floor technical support to members and enhance the community, in return gaining development opportunities in ceramics as well as the resources they need to work on their own projects.

The role offers 15 hours a week membership (with a surcharge to cover the cost of firing) for final year students and recent graduates of ceramics programmes (and graduates of arts programmes that have focused on ceramics) who can offer 4 hours a week as a mentor. These hours are flexible; mentors choose a slot from the rota for each week and complete their hours to unlock 15 hours personal time.

Clay projects undertaken on behalf of the studio will be tailored as far as possible to the interest of the graduate (for example glaze tests for those interested in glazing, throwing tasks for those wanting to develop as a thrower, tile making for those wanting to develop their flatware skills.)  The opportunity to shadow our technicians will also benefit those wishing to develop studio management skills.

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Job description

The primary role for Mentors in the studio is to support the community, providing a familiar face and a visible point of engagement, providing a friendly focus for discussion and opportunities for questions and advice. For four hours a week, Mentors will be present in the main studio area as part of their role , whilst working on ceramic projects to enhance the members studio (for example, making test tiles, wall tiles, planters, even bathroom sinks!) and simultaneously being obviously available as a point of contact to members and visitors (a mentor apron will be provided).

The key responsibility is to generate a warm, accessible working environment for members and foment a rich learning atmosphere and community spirit without pressing upon those who prefer privacy while in the studio.

The role offers the opportunity for full membership including up to 15 hours per week of  studio use - outside the agreed mentoring hours -  for personal projects, with only firing to be charged. Personal time however should still allow a certain amount of interfacing as an accessible persona representing the studio.  

Personal attributes

This role requires strong interpersonal skills, an authentic interest in supporting the development of others,  the ability to put people at ease, willingness to engage in conversations with strangers, and the confidence to facilitate small discussion groups. Applicants should have technical ceramics expertise to share, or at the least have theoretical knowledge relevant for studio members (such as a knowledge of ceramic history or portfolio development). Applicants should be committed to their own development and be a self-learner/self-starter to take advantage of the many informal learning experiences available in the studio.

Further aspects to the role will include:
Participating in member inductions, or carrying them out in full.
Ensuring cleaning policies and other studio rules are adhered to.
Undergoing training in community building.

Participating in and being part of a rota to moderate the Turning Earth Facebook group and the dedicated members' Whatsapp channel

Participating in and organising peer-learning groups

Participating in member social activities

Selling clay to members when staff members are busy.

Other details:

Firing is charged at £5 liter for glaze, bisque firing up to 40L is included.

Weekly mentoring shifts are: 6-10pm Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, 4-8 Friday, 10-2pm or 4 -8pm Saturday and Sunday, these are flexible but must be booked and undertaken before your personal time for the week is unlocked.

Requirements for application:

Be in the final year of, or within 3 years of graduating from any relevant programme. Relevant programmes include ceramics courses anywhere in the world. Graduates from related programmes who have experience in ceramics or who have taken ceramics as an element of another course will also be considered.

Less recent ceramics graduates on means tested benefits looking for a way back into the industry are also invited to apply.

The due date for application for this recruitment round is 28th February, although applicants who are available to start sooner are encouraged to apply at the earliest opportunity.

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Apply here

The Turning Earth Leyton market returns during the London Design Festival. See events page for more information.