William Davenport grave (? to 21st February 1869)

On Sundays if I feel the need for a circular walk around the grounds of a stately home there are two nearby. One is Bramall Hall, a 15th century timbre-built manor house surrounded by 75 acres. I don't visit often though - I like varied and distant views but too many mature trees prevent this. The estate orbits the house. Being a grave geek whenever I see such a building my first thought is I wonder where the last owner is buried. I did some research and found the last owner was buried one mile away in Cheadle Hulme. I went to visit him.

For five hundred years the house was occupied by the Davenport family. William was the tenth and final Davenport. He lived there with his wife Martha. They didn't have children of their own but William had two illegitimate daughters which they adopted. On William's death aged 59 the estate passed to Captain John Humphreys, husband of their eldest daughter. Other Davenport members contested this magnificent gift but failed. The last individual owner of the estate was John Henry Davies (who founded Manchester United Football Club.) He bought it in 1925 but died two years later. In 1935 the estate was acquired by Stockport Council.

I'm not sure why William and Martha lie here. Most Davenports are buried in St Mary's Parish Church in Stockport. William and Martha were too but Captain Humphreys (The Jolly Sailor pub nearby is commemorates him) had them moved to this church in Wilmslow.

The gravestone isn't grand or fanciful. I assume William was moved here to join two former ancestors with the same name. While passing on route to Cheshire to find graves I thought I'd say hello. I did a salute and left.