During the 2013 Davenport Gathering at Edenton NC, many family members attending expressed interest in seeing the Cheshire UK territory from which this Davenport family has evolved.
We had talked of our next family Gathering taking place in Stamford Connecticut USA, but due to the interest voiced concerning our Cheshire `roots` this has been set aside in favour of Cheshire UK. This will probably be the last Gathering in Cheshire for the foreseable future.
We have included the following within the itinerary:
- Capesthorne hall, historic home of the Davenports and later Bromley Davenports, home to Sir William Bromley Davenport.
- Prestbury St. Peters church, where we meet the good people of Prestbury for afternoon tea in the church. Vivian de Davenport was buried here in the 13th cent., and Davenport association with St.Peters lasted until the late eighteenth century.
- Ancient Bramhall Hall, home to the Davenports for four hundred years.
- Marton village and wooden church.
- Davenport, the `township` by the river Dane, where we have so kindly been invited to visit the privately owned Davenport Hall, one time location for our earliest ancestor Orme de Davenport.
- A day briefly retracing the footsteps of the 13th cent. notorious band of Davenport `sergeants of the peace` including the high moorland country along the Derbyshire border. Macclesfield forest and the Forest chapel high in the hills, a call at closeby Sutton Hall one time home of Sir Humphrey Davenport.
- On the fourth day morning (Saturday) a visit has been arranged to the `black and white` pretty market town of Nantwich, where a guided tour of this historic town has been arranged. Alternatively, those who wish to shop in the excellent shopping areas are free to do so, with return to Alsager by coach for the final lunch.
We hope our visitors will locate at the Best Western Hotel at Alsager near to Congleton, which as a group we have used before. Block room reservation preferential rates have been arranged, and meeting/dining room reservation has been done. Coach transport each day will depart from, and return to this location. Those who elect to make their own hotel arrangements are asked to arrive at the Manor House Hotel each day for transportation by coach. This spacious hotel provides a venue where we can relax and enjoy ourselves in the evenings.
Our final lunch on the Saturday combines with the annual meeting for UK Davenports, which we hope will include those who could not join us during the week. The Gathering will disband after this lunch.
All coach transport, and cost of guided tours is included. People will be asked to settle their own hotel bill, and costs for lunch . Lunch for Friday is included, as due to a tight travel schedule this will be a packed lunch provided from the hotel.
We do so hope you will come and make this a memorable few days amongst family members. Please bring your family tree scrolls, photographs, anything you like, the more the merrier.
God Bless you all.
Ian
(Buckinghamshire, UK)
