Basic HTML Version
The Exhibitions
“The Turaida Estate
Drying Kiln”
This exhibition offers a look at the work of the
drying kiln in Turaida from the latter half of
the 19th century until the mid-20th century.
The kiln has two floors. Initially the facade had
two doors and a window to provide lights and
ventilation. The kiln is at the eastern end of the
building, and when grain was dried, someone
was always there to supervise the process. That
person closed the air vents and ventilation
channels and fired up the kiln. Ventilation was
regulated with the dampers and the door of the
stove. The specialist always had to make sure
that the temperature in the kiln did not rise
above 650˚ Celsius. When the temperature was
at the right level, the specialist opened the air
supply and ventilation vents.
At the centre of the building is a closed room in
which grain was dried. It had a stove and sieves
for the grain. There were holes in the floor
to admit cold air, and near the ceiling were
openings with fans to draw out the moist air.
Cold air flowed into the room and was warmed
up near the stove. It flowed across the grain and
to the upper openings to draw out the moisture
from the grain. After the grain was dry, it was
cooled down.
A scheme of the kiln’s operations
A look at the exhibition
125
THE TURAIDA ESTATE