A new research project is exploring what Stoke-on-Trent residents know about an important 'secret ingredient' in the ceramics industry.

The 'Winning the Clay' research project – named after the term used for quarrying the clay - is exploring the little-known history of ball clay and its connections to the Potteries.

The project is the result of a collaboration between Rebecca Nunes, Associate Professor at the University of Staffordshire and Sophy Rickett, a Reader at University of the Arts London.

"It really is essential to a big part of the ceramics industry," Rebecca said.

"Particularly the more industrial processes like making toilets, sinks and sanitary ware.

"The reason why it is important for Stoke-on-Trent, is because it was access to ball clay that enabled Wedgwood and the potters at Spode to really expand their industrial processes and export their wares."

Ball clay is a rare material found in South Devon, which played a "crucial role" in the development of the global ceramics and sanitary ware industries in Stoke-on-Trent.

Only a small amount of clay was used in recipes for ceramic wares, but the plasticity and white-burning properties of ball clay made the slip-mould process possible.

Rebecca added: "I'm describing it as a ceramic 'super-power' because without ball clay - even though you only use it in small amounts in the recipe - there's a whole bunch of things that just can't be made."

As part of the first phase of the project, which has received support from the UKRI-funded Arts and Humanities Research Council, a survey has been created to find out what residents in Staffordshire and South Devon know about this unique material.

The project hopes to learn how local communities experience the clay and its associated infrastructure, and how they are represented in local heritage contexts such as museums and heritage centres.

Researchers are now inviting people who live or work in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire to complete a short survey to help them understand local knowledge on the subject.

"These stories aren't visible," Rebecca said.

"They're not well known, and I think if people did know them, they might feel a stronger sense of connection to their place.

"They would maybe understand a little bit more about what happened in the past to make their place feel like what it feels like today."

The researchers hope that the project will help them to "tell better stories" about the history of ball clay and its place in the ceramics industry, potentially through workshops and working with museums.

Rebecca added: "What we've noticed looking through all the museums is that there is so much emphasis placed on the 'top shelf item': the beautiful vases, the beautiful finishes.

"Understandably, because museums can tell really interesting stories about those things.

"But the more daily life stuff isn't really spoken of and we would like to change that narrative a little bit.

"Unearth some of the more everyday stories in ways that people can connect to."

To complete the survey, follow the link here.