Davenport

In pottery the term "Davenport" is used to refer to pottery and porcelain pieces manufactured by John Davenport and his successors. Born in 1765, John Davenport is said to have started potting at the age of 20 in 1785. Initially working as a workman, John Davenport later became a partner of Thomas Wolfe of Stoke. He started producing his own range of earthenware in 1794, for the purposes of which he acquired a pottery at Longport. He continued working with the pottery up until his retirement in 1830, after which he handed over the pottery to his two sons, Henry Davenport and William Davenport who ran the firm until Henry’s death in 1835. Following this, the pottery adopted the name William Davenport and Company, and was run by William until his death in 1869. After him, his two sons ran the company till 1887.

The Davenports did not indulge in the manufacture of porcelain up until 1815, before which blue-printed earthenware formed the most significant part of the company’s offerings. Throughout its existence the Davenport pottery regularly produced large quantities of under glaze blue transfer ware printed earthenware, which was often decorated with willow patterns, floral patterns, romantic ruins and pastoral scenes.