While some firms lean into their heritage, others are modernising in the face of economic pressures.

Microwave kilns might not be able to do everything a traditional kiln does, but for hobbyists and crafters looking for an affordable way to melt glass at home, they certainly are a handy alternative.

Tessa Oldroyd says she is "making history" at a 186-year-old tile-making site in North Lincolnshire Standing beside a machine older than her grandfather, Tessa Oldroyd feeds clay through a clanky ...