Roman kiln pieces 'on their way' back to Highgate

21 sections of the Highgate kiln have been taken out of storage at Bruce Castle Museum ready to return home to Highgate

Pieces of a Roman kiln are ‘on their way’ back to their original home in Highgate.

The Friends of the Highgate Roman Kiln (FoHRK) say all 21 pieces of the Highgate Kiln have been taken out of wood and storage at Bruce Castle Museum in preparation for the kiln to be restored to its rightful home.

Secretary of the FoHRK Nick Peacey said: “The skilled process of conservation has now begun in the studio of the Natural Building Centre (NBC), Conwy in Wales.”

The process is a delicate one – the clay being nearly 2,000 years old.

The FoHRK say a replica of the Highgate Kiln is due to be built in August this year with Graham Taylor, expert in building historic kilns, leading the programme.

Its first firing is due to take place on 1st September.

In the meantime, FoHRK have been spearheading ‘Roman woodland adventure sessions’ for students in Highgate Wood.

Nick added: “We are about to pilot a Key Stage 4 and 5 science, technology, engineering and mathematics with arts (STEAM) programme, to take place in the summer term 2024. This programme aims to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration: over four weeks students will work together in groups and use their problem-solving skills to explore evidence and suggest solutions to research questions relating to the kilns found in Highgate Wood.”

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