The Clay Villages
Early in the 18th Century, William Cookworthy discovered China Clay at
Tregonning Hill, near St Austell. This was to be the basis for
the wealth of the town and surrounding villages for the next two
centuries. The China Clay was predominantly 'won' from pits in
the area to the north of St Austell; around St Dennis, St Stephen,
Stenalees, Nanpean, Foxhole and Carthew
There was a strong bond between the men of the clay pits and works. Many local families had several generations all working together in the pit. Boys often started work at the pit or works where there brothers or father also worked. It was very common to find men from one village all working at the local pit and spending their off duty time socialising together.
This strong community bond still lives on in the clay villages today and has helped to create some villages with very strong collective identities; numerous Male Voice Choirs and Silver Bands are the strong legacy of the bonds within the China Clay community.
The China Clay Country Park at Wheal Martyn, Carthew, north of St Austell has an impressive exhibition of the China Clay communities and their lifestyles through the generations. The works at the museum in Carthew were carefully restored in 1975 to give an idea of what they originally looked like. The historic trail shows how the clay was refined a hundred years ago before mechanisation radically changed the processes. The visitor finishes the ascent of the hillside site at a vantage point, overlooking the modern workings showing the huge scale of the modern industry.
There was a strong bond between the men of the clay pits and works. Many local families had several generations all working together in the pit. Boys often started work at the pit or works where there brothers or father also worked. It was very common to find men from one village all working at the local pit and spending their off duty time socialising together.
This strong community bond still lives on in the clay villages today and has helped to create some villages with very strong collective identities; numerous Male Voice Choirs and Silver Bands are the strong legacy of the bonds within the China Clay community.
The China Clay Country Park at Wheal Martyn, Carthew, north of St Austell has an impressive exhibition of the China Clay communities and their lifestyles through the generations. The works at the museum in Carthew were carefully restored in 1975 to give an idea of what they originally looked like. The historic trail shows how the clay was refined a hundred years ago before mechanisation radically changed the processes. The visitor finishes the ascent of the hillside site at a vantage point, overlooking the modern workings showing the huge scale of the modern industry.
