These stoneware flagons are two of several on display in Honiton Museum. Flagons were used to contain all types of liquids from beverages to chemicals. Those used to contain drinks were produced in a large range of sizes spanning from half a gallon to six gallons.

Both Thomas Basleigh Avery and John Read traded as grocers and wine and spirit merchants in Honiton High Street for decades. They were brothers-in-law. John Read married Thomas’s sister Sarah Jane Avery in 1860 at St Paul’s Church and his brother Charles Read, a draper, married Thomas’s sister Mary Ann.

John Read became the Mayor of Honiton in 1872 and was well known as the Captain of the local Company of Volunteers, and a Major in the 3rd Battalion. Most of his later years were spent at his seaside residence in Teignmouth. He died aged 58, leaving seven adult children – four sons and three daughters.

Thomas Avery took an active part in the public affairs of Honiton too. He became a member of the Town Council in 1881. He was Mayor from 1882-1883 and elected as an Alderman in 1886. Thomas lived with his sister Elizabeth and their brother George at St Leonard’s Villa, Bramble Hill for many years. For 20 years he was one of the managers of the Church School. He was appointed trustee of the Allhallows Charity and the Honiton Charities in 1877 and he succeeded his father as Church Warden in 1873 until he retired from public service in 1912.

In 1896, Thomas, along with the Rector, Mr Turner, the Town Surveyor, and Mr Buchanan were summoned for having on ‘May 23 and June 2, while carrying out alterations at St Michael's Church, caused to be deposited on the highway, from Littletown to the Church, and in the water course adjoining, a quantity of portions of dead bodies of diverse persons unknown, and infected soil in corrupt and injurious matter, excavated from walls or vaults within or underneath the church, so as to cause a nuisance, and in contravention of the Public Health Act of 1875’.

During three days in May and June an employee of the town council was observed to be spreading rubble to mend the roads from 40 (or 50, or 100) cartloads which consisted of human bones, coffin parts and clay. Many witnesses were called to give evidence and after a nine hour hearing, the Court directed that the bones should be handed over to the Sexton for burial in the Church.