A small china clay pit but it plays a part in the development of the china clay industry of Cornwall. Wedgwood, desperate for the special clay, although it had been located at Wheal Grey in Cornwall earlier, had five tons brought over from Ayoree, N. Carolina, which was in Cherokee territory, in the mid 18th century.
This was deemed to be impractical on a regular basis and later better stone for china manufacture was found at Carloggas Quarry near St. Stephen-in-Brannel. The rest is history.