AN evening exploring the connections between brick-making and china clay production in Helston on Wednesday.

Ceramic artist Rosanna Martin and china clay historian Ivor Bowditch will be joined by John Osborne, who started working at Wheal Remfry, near Fraddon in 1958.

Mr Osborne said: "I started at the brickworks in the office but had to get my hands in the clay. I have been in every job there from kiln setting, brickmaker to fireman. I started there in July 1958 and finished September 1971."

John was the last man to fire the beehive kiln at the last working brickworks in Cornwall.

Having not made a brick for almost 50 years, he has contributed his knowledge and experience to the successful development of a project to rediscover lost brick-making skills. He and Rosanna Martin will discuss the materials and processes involved.

China clay has a vast range of uses, from ceramics to paper and from pharmaceuticals to building materials.

It was discovered by William Cookworthy on Tregonning Hill, near Helston, in 1746 and that discovery led to the establishment of the Tregonning Hill China Clay and Brick Works in the early 1870s.

As china clay production moved northwards to the St Austell area, brick making followed.

Rosanna Martin has developed a project that draws on the heritage of brick making in the region and is based at Blackpool pit, a disused clay pit near St Austell, using waste materials from the industry.

She has been working with local people to mix clays, mould and fire bricks.

Mr Bowditch, founding member of the China Clay History Society, will discuss the wider historical context.

The Brickfield project builds on a project that took place on the site of an old brickworks at Trelonk on the Fal estuary, organised last year as part of the Groundwork festival.

The event will take place at Cornubian Arts and Science Trust (CAST), Penrose Road, Helston, starting at 7pm. Free admission. All welcome.

CAST Café will serve food from 6pm.