Named after Saint Austol (Saint Austell is mostly unrelated), one of the earliest references to the village of St Austell is in John Leland's Itinerary, where he says "At S. Austelles is nothing notable but the paroch chirch" [REF].
Not long after William Cookworthy discovered china clay at Tregonning hill in west Cornwall, the same mineral was found in greater quantity in Hensbarrow downs north of St Austell [REF].