DEATH OF MR. DAVENPORT. 25 



absorbing as the business and the hounds, but "where 

 there's a will there's a way," and the result showed pretty 

 conclusively that neither the business nor the Hunt suffered 

 from any lack of attention or care on the part of the 

 Master. 



The Staffordshire Advertiser of June 12th, 18G9, 

 contained the following appreciative notice of the late 

 Master : — 



" Our obituary of to-day contains a notice of the death of ^Ir. W. Davenport, 

 of Maer Hall, the proprietor of the well-known and extensive china and glass 

 manufacturing establishments at Longport. Mr. Davenport's health has been 

 for several years declining, and for a few months past he was confined ..to his 

 residence. The melancholy event occurred on Sunday, and on the following 

 day Longport presented a truly mournful appearance, there being scarcely a 

 house where the blinds were not drawn. Nor is it to bo wondered at. Mr. 

 Davenport was a kind and generous employer, and, in times of sickness especially, 

 was ever found ready and willing to help his workpeople ; and in this case the 

 adage was exemplified, * A good master makes a good servant.' Many have 

 been retained in his service to a good old age ; and, indeed, few firms can boast 

 of having the number of old hands, some of whom have held their situations 

 during their whole lives. From declining health, Mr, Davenport has not been 

 able of late to hold much intercourse with his workpeople, but this has not 

 lessened their long-continued esteem for him, and they all sincerely mourn the 

 loss of an indulgent master and kind friend. Mr. Davenport's connection with 

 the Longport works dates as far back as 1822. In 1833 he became a partner 

 with his father and brother. The father was one of the first representatives of 

 the Borough of Stoke-on-Trent, an honour which the recently deceased gentleman 

 has on more than one occasion declined to seek, though earnestly urged to offer 

 himself. In '.848 Mr. Davenport became sole proprietor of the several works 

 at Longport, in addition to the establishments in London and Liverpool. He 

 was a Magistrate of the County and a Deputy-Lieutenant, and in 1859 he filled 

 the office of High Sheriff. Mr. Davenport was also a member of the Goldsmiths' 

 Company in London. Although naturally of retiring habits, the deceased gentle- 

 man occasionally took part in public matters. He was one of the original pro- 

 moters of the Staffordshire Potteries Waterworks Company, and for some years 

 its chairman. He cut the first sod of this important undertaking, and one of 

 the engines now at work at Wall Grange is styled 'The Davenport.' In 185-4 

 he laid the foundation stone of the noble Town Hall at Burslera, and at the 

 opening promised an organ — a promise which he afterwards munificently earned 

 out. Mr. Davenport was a great lover of hunting. For more than twenty-five 

 years he was Master of the North Staffordshire Hounds, and hunted the country 

 at his own expense.* In 1847 Mr. Davenport purchased the Maer Hall estate 

 from the Wedgwood family, and has since added largely to it. Mr. Davenport 

 leaves a wife, one son, and eight daughters, the eldest of whom is married to 

 M. E. M. Buller, Esq. The interests of the numerous workpeople have been 

 consulted, with the same consideration that has been shown heretofore, in the 



* For the last fuur seasons there was a subscription. 



