Filling the Kiln

Here is an interior view of one of the kilns, or baking ovens, showing Tiles being stacked ready for firing. Red Tiles and Quarries are fired solid, but Blue and Brindled goods are fired open, viz, with a space between each article, and it is the high percentage of peroxide of of iron in Staffordshire Clay which fluxes during this process of firing and gives the well known Staffordshire Blue.

At the Springfield Tileries a good Red and some beautiful shades of Brown and Purble are also fired; this range of shades is further increased to meet almost every requirement of Architect, Merchant or Builder, by the judicious use of mouldin sands and special colours are obtained by using fast stains.

The construction of these kilns and the satisfactory methods of firing are the results of many years experience, and with a view to still further improving the process, experiments are now being made with pyrometer firing and insulation.

It is common for the firing of even the red kilns to occupy six weeks, but at the Springfield Tileries it can be done in two weeks. This explains why Wheatly & Co. are usually in a position to commence delivery of special goods in three to four weeks from the recipt of an order.

Pyrometer Firing and Insulation