The official St Austell Bay Tourist Information Centre website
Mining Heritage
In the 18th Century, the town of St Austell prospered from the 'white
gold' mined in the countryside to the north - China Clay.
William Cookworthy, a pharmacist, discovered the China Clay and set up a
porcelain factory in 1768 at Plymouth. Nowadays, the China Clay is used
in many products and processes - from tyres to toothpaste!
You can find out more at the Wheal Martyn Museum
& Country Park.
The Georgian
harbour village of Charlestown, just a mile from St Austell, was created
by Sir Charles Rashleigh to allow the transport of the valuable China
Clay to the potteries in the north and across to Europe. Visit the Charlestown Shipwreck and Heritage
Centre.
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Last updated 10th November 2023