Portland House, High Street, Honiton

Image: © John Lucas Taken: 20 Feb 2024

Bizarre incidents occurred here in 1925. Charles Hayward, the long-estranged husband of one of my great aunts, was resident in the house. Hayward was a solicitor in the town and one time town-councillor. Patrolling constables were puzzled by damp patches which appeared regularly on the pavement beneath a window of the house. They set up an observation and saw Hayward throwing liquid from a window. The inference was that he had been emptying a chamber pot out of the window. Hayward strenuously denied that was the case but the magistrate found the case proved and he was fined 10/-. Hayward must have been a troubled man. He died in 1931 and in his will he left legacies totalling some £7546. Unfortunately, once his liabilities had been discounted, his net estate was just £171.

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