Description:A colour advertisement for Wardle & Davenport Ltd., silk manufacturers of Leek, published in Leek supplement of 'The Drapers' Organiser', July 1925.
The silk manufacturing firm of Wardle & Davenport began in 1867 as a partnership between Henry Wardle of Leek, innkeeper and photographer, and George Davenport of Leek, silk throwster. It became a public company in 1899. The company pioneered the manufacture of artificial silk stockings. At its peak, the company employed up to 2500 people at its huge Belle Vue mill but struggled in the 1960s, finally going into receivership in 1970.