It is July 1956 and Derek and Eric have succeed in persuading a local Hillesden farmer, to drive the wheel and kiln down to Sussex in his cattle truck. (This was before the motorways and probably involved a three hundred mile round trip for the poor farmer). Eric has the wheel dropped off at his place, and the kiln goes to Arundel. Here it has to be manoeuvred through Duff House to the new studio, which involves negotiating three flights of steps. Luckily, the house being Georgian, the doorways are wide, and accommodate the kiln width.
The kiln and glaze room, is to be housed in a charming little outhouse they name Duff Cottage, measuring some 15 by 25 feet. It was built during Queen Anne’s reign, and stood immediately behind the Duff House.
The kiln was a 1953 Catterson Smith, with an internal measurement of around 24”x 24”x 30” high, that Derek talked highly of, especially its mercury balanced thermostats. I can recall its bodywork, a pale silvery-blue with two black control switches on the front, just below the door.
Derek, not wanting to jeopardise his connections in London, moves swiftly, almost seamlessly from the Hillesden studio, into the Duff Cottage one. Having arranged for 3 phase electrics to be installed, the kiln is soon connected up, and he is ready to continue where he had left off. It was less than five weeks between the last firing at Hillesden and the first firing of the same kiln in Arundel. I can’t imagine, that happening today.
Rear elevation. The Studio (Cottage)on the right.
Ref: 75