The most complete Roman pottery kiln found in Greater London will be put on public display for the first time since it was discovered by archaeologists in 1968.

Thanks to a £243,550 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, one of the country’s best-preserved Roman artefacts has been carefully restored and was unveiled on Sunday at the annual Highgate Wood Community Heritage Day.

The event – organised by the City of London Corporation, which manages Highgate Wood as a registered charity – included the firing of a replica kiln.

The original kiln will be on display in the Information Hut as part of a temporary exhibition with further renovations to create a Visitor Centre and activities planned over the next few years.

Chair of the City Corporation’s Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park Committee, William Upton KC, said: “Until recently, the pieces of this extraordinary find have been inaccessible to the public.

“Now, thanks to the Friends of Highgate Roman Kiln, Haringey Council, and the City of London Corporation, it has been possible to bring this piece of history back to life. It will be the only pottery kiln of its kind to be exhibited anywhere in the country.

“The return of the kiln to Highgate Wood is a wonderful achievement, but the project isn’t over yet. Over the next year, we’ll be transforming the Information Hut into more of a Visitor Centre to create a welcoming and engaging learning environment. We’ll also be adding replica kiln firings to our calendar of activities and events.”

Nick Peacey from The Friends of Highgate Roman Kiln said: “The Highgate Wood Heritage Day marks an important milestone for the Firing London’s Imagination project.

“We’re delighted that Graham Taylor of Potted History will be in charge of firing the replica kiln, and our ambition to inspire people of all ages and backgrounds to engage with and enjoy the story of the Highgate Roman kilns will be that much closer to being fulfilled.”

Deputy leader of Haringey Council, Sarah Williams, said: “With Haringey gearing up to be the London Borough of Culture in 2027, it’s fantastic that the newly restored Roman kiln is making a long-awaited return to its rightful place after a 56-year absence.

“With its very own, dedicated visitor centre, the kiln will be another great tourist attraction and I’d encourage everyone to come along to the Highgate Community Heritage Day and see this incredible historic artefact for themselves.

“The return of this Roman kiln has been achieved by the council working in close collaboration with residents.

“I’d like to thank staff at the Bruce Castle Museum and Archive, the Friends of the Highgate Roman Kiln, the City of London Corporation and the National Lottery Heritage Fund for their commitment and support in making this possible.”

The kiln is thought to be the last built by Roman potters who worked in Highgate Wood between 50CE and 160CE to supply Londinium, the capital of Roman Britain, and southeast England with distinctive ‘Highgate Ware’ pottery.

Highgate Wood is an ancient woodland, located in the London Borough of Haringey in north London and is protected by the City of London Corporation.

Muslim Aid hosted a first-of-its-kind charity football tournament which brought together Islamic community leaders and scholars from across the UK for an exciting 11-a-side match.

Imams came from all over the country including London, Blackburn, Bradford, and Batley to take part in the inaugural Minarets Cup. 

The event drew a crowd of 200 fans who witnessed the Imams All-Stars triumph over Imams United with an impressive 8-3 victory. Medals were awarded to all players, and the Imams All Stars proudly took home the Minaret Cup trophy for 2024. 

The tournament concluded with a closing ceremony, featuring a Nasihah (Islamic advice session) by Sheikh Khidr, followed by an awards presentation. 

The tournament raised over £16,000 for Muslim Aid’s Palestine appeal, which supports Palestinians facing ongoing aggression with food, water, and medicine to those suffering in Gaza.  

This tournament was organised in collaboration with East London Mosque.  

Farhal Ahmed, community fundraising manager at Muslim Aid said: ” It was inspiring to witness imams from across the country come together and participate in this remarkable initiative organised by the East London Mosque.

“Taking care of our bodies and maintaining good health is an integral part of our Sunnah (Prophetic way of life), and we should encourage our communities to do the same. This event united communities here in the UK and supported those in need in Gaza. The funds raised from this project will go towards providing life-saving aid.” 

A murder investigation has been launched following the death of a man who was stabbed in Forest Gate on August 10.

Police were called to reports of an incident in Romford Road, near the junction with Woodgrange Road.

Officers and London Ambulance Service attended and found 38-year-old Saley Beya (pictured) suffering stab injuries.

Mr Beya was taken to hospital for treatment but died as a result of his injuries on Thursday. His family is being supported by specially trained officers.

A 28-year-old man has appeared in court charged with section 18 GBH. The Crown Prosecution Service has been asked to amend the indictment.

Detective chief inspector Kelly Allen said: “We still need people with information to come forward and tell us what they know about this tragic incident.

“Our enquiries have established that there was traffic in Romford Road, including two buses, and people would have seen these events unfold. There was also a car which had to stop in the road as the attack took place.

“I would urge anyone who saw this incident, or anyone who took images or footage of the attack, to get in contact immediately.”

Saley’s family said: “We are deeply heartbroken at our beloved Saley’s passing. Saley was a father to four amazing children who love and miss him very much. He was also a cherished brother to four siblings and a much loved son, uncle and friend to many.

“Whilst we understand the difficulty and fear surrounding speaking out against others in such circumstances, we call upon the morality and goodwill of the public to please come forward at this time, if you have any information that may assist the police in bringing justice for Saley’s murder.

“If you know anything at all, no matter how small or irrelevant you feel it may be, please contact them.”

Detectives continue to appeal for witnesses and information about the incident. If you can assist, call 101 or ‘X’ @MetCC and quote CAD1103/10Aug.

UK charity Muslim Aid is actively responding to the severe flooding that has devastated 11 districts in Bangladesh, affecting over 5.2 million people and resulting in the tragic loss of 20 lives. 

Triggered by heavy rainfall and an influx of water from upstream, this third flood spell has profoundly impacted the region leaving 1,047,029 families stranded and 415,273 seeking refuge in 3,654 emergency shelter centres. 

In response, Muslim Aid is on the ground in the most affected areas, providing critical support to the communities in need.  

The charity, which is headquartered in London, is delivering food packs, non-food items (NFIs), drinking water, and hygiene kits to 900 families in the Cumilla and Feni Districts. The first phase of this relief effort, valued at £20,000 GBP, aims to alleviate the immediate suffering and ensure the well-being of those affected. 

Muhammad Abul Kalam, head of income generation and marketing at Muslim Aid, said: “Muslim Aid has been a steadfast presence in Bangladesh since 1991, when our country office was established in response to the devastating cyclones that claimed thousands of lives and shattered communities. Today, with over 1,200 dedicated staff working across 63 districts, we are deeply committed to our long-term and emergency response projects in Bangladesh.

“Our strong relationship with the British-Bangladeshi community has been instrumental in our efforts. For generations, they have chosen Muslim Aid as their charity of choice, enabling us to provide vital support and relieve the pressure on Bangladesh’s local resources, ultimately improving the lives of all residents. 

“As the floods continue to wreak havoc across Bangladesh, our priority is to provide essential aid to the most vulnerable. We are committed to standing by the people of Bangladesh during this difficult time and will continue to assess and respond to the evolving needs.” 

Image credit: Muslim Aid