From

To

Occupier 

Comments

1773

1793

Unknown

Consisting of three builds by John Brindley, Edward Bourne and Robert Williamson. 

1793

1887

Davenports

A succession of the Davenport family operated at these works. First at the Brindley and Bourne works - then around 1830-35 the works built by Robert Williamson were purchased by Davenports

1888

1957

Thomas Hughes (& Son)

In 1888 Thomas Hughes purchased the Longport Pottery from Davenport's. This was a large pottery with many buildings. 

Hughes renamed the works to the Unicorn Works demolished some of the the buildings, and let some of the buildings to other potters. 

By 1893 Hughes had started to move his business from the adjoining Top Bridge Works (which he had purchased around 1881 - also from the Davenport family).  

1957

2003

Arthur Wood & Son

The Unicorn Works were taken over by Arthur Wood & Sons who were already operating from the adjacent Bradwell Works. 

Most of works were demolished c.1959/60 in just over two months - a few workshops at the northern end were retained and continued to be operated by Arthur Wood.

1961

c.1980

Unicorn Pottery Ltd

The Unicorn Pottery Ltd was established by Gerald F. Wood and Anthony E. Wood - the principles of Arthur Wood & Son (Longport) Ltd 

In 1773, a manufactory was erected at Longport by John Brindley (brother of  the celebrated James Brindley, the engineer), who also built for himself a handsome residence near at hand. 

Shortly after 1773, Edward Bourne built another manufactory; and this was followed by a third, erected by Robert Williamson.

In 1793, the first-named manufactories passed into the hands of John Davenport, who, in 1797, added to his other operations 'the chemical preparation of litharge and white lead for the use of potters', which, however, was afterwards discontinued. 

In 1801, the business of glass-making was added. In about 1830, Mr. Davenport retired from active business and chiefly resided at Westwood Hall, near Leek, where he died in 1848. 

• The business, after his retirement in 1830, was carried on by his second son. Henry Davenport (who died in 1835), and the youngest son, William Davenport. 

• Henry Davenport purchased the manufactory of Robert Williamson, and added to his other works. 

• After the death of Henry Davenport, the manufactories were carried on by his youngest brother, William Davenport, under the style of W. Davenport & Co. He died in 1869 and the entire business was carried on by his son, Henry Davenport, until September 1881, when he converted it into a private company - Davenport's Ltd.

• Production ceased - by Davenport's - (after some years of trouble) in 1887, and the works were purchased by Thomas Hughes.

Jewitt's Ceramic Art of Great Britain 1800-1900

• Thomas Hughes already operated as an earthenware manufacturer - firstly at Waterloo Road, Burslem (c.1860-76) and then at the Top Bridge Works, Longport, Burslem (c.1872-94). 

• He moved to the nearby Longport Pottery after purchasing it from Davenport's - he named it Unicorn Pottery and operated here as Thomas Hughes & Son Ltd.

• The business remained in the control of the Hughes family until it ceased trading in 1957.

• The Unicorn Pottery was taken over by Arthur Wood & Sons (Longport) Ltd. the other occupant of the historic Davenport Works site.

A Handbook of British Pottery 1900-2010 - Michael Perry