Detail of the Windows and Upper Stories of Mol's Coffee House (1596), Cathedral Close, Exeter, Devon.
Image details
Contributor:
John Insull / Alamy Stock PhotoImage ID:
2AG0R1GFile size:
68.7 MB (2.8 MB Compressed download)Releases:
Model - no | Property - noDo I need a release?Dimensions:
6000 x 4000 px | 50.8 x 33.9 cm | 20 x 13.3 inches | 300dpiDate taken:
20 February 2018Location:
Mol's Coffee House, Cathedral Close, Exeter, Devon.More information:
Mol's Coffee House is an exceptionally picturesque building set in Exeter's Cathedral Close. Very little of the old historic Exeter City Centre survives today due to heavy bombing in 1942. This includes everything lying to the rear of this property, although the walls of the old Almshouses remain. Demolition of surviving building elements occurred during the rebuilding of the post-war City. Historians believe that the building was constructed in 1410 by the Cathedral Authorities to provide housing for priests known as 'Annuellars'. Their role was to carry out requested duties for deceased city residents, to visit and comfort their relatives and to maintain a lit candle in remembrance for them. During the 1540's this practice was banned and the buildings previously known as Annuellers College (1 - 5 Catthedral Close) were sublet. In 1596 a wealthy Exeter yeoman John Dyer, was thought to have totally remodelled the building. The Royal Coat of Arms over the front of Mol's was put in place, by Dyer in this same year. Probably because Dyer wished to indicate that the ground floor of this building had the official function of Customs house. It is possible that this function was moved down river to Topsham before the new Custom House was built in the Quay development of 1660. From then on the property was among other things an apothecary shop, a shoe shop and by 1715 a haberdashery. Mol's was first advertised as a coffee house in Brice's Weekly in 1726, The name being a shortened version of Molly derived from Mary. It remained a coffee house, run by several proprietors for over a hundred years until closing in 1829. Its varied history has continued to the present day and the property is situated next to Saint Martin's Church, the oldest building in Exeter. The site being consecrated by Bishop Leofric in 1065.