Pit-firing

Back in 2021, we conducted two pit firings in Healaugh, Yorkshire – a rare opportunity to experiment with this ancient technique.

Here’s how pit firing works:

1. Hand-build the pots

2. Gather local combustibles – sawdust, wood, leaves, fruit peels, seaweed, mussel shells

3. Wrap materials around the pots and place them in the pit

4. Cover with logs, light the fire, and raise the temperature to 1000°C

5. Seal the pit overnight – letting nature’s alchemy work

The fumes create unique, unpredictable patterns – like painting by elemental forces. Of the 20 pots we fired, just four remain on our site.

Have a look:

🌿 plateaulife.store/pit-fired-pot