Mol's Coffee House
{{Short description|Building in Exeter, Devon, England}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Mol's Coffee House
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| image = File:Mol's Coffee House, Cathedral Close, Exeter (9528715143).jpg
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| caption = Mol's Coffee House in 2013
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| location = 1 Cathedral Close, Exeter, Devon
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| location_country = England
| coordinates = {{coord|50|43|24.24|N|3|31|48|W|display=inline}}
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| years_built = 16th century
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Mol's Coffee House is an historic building and coffeehouse in Exeter, Devon.{{Cite book |last=Cherry |first=Bridget |title=The buildings of England |last2=Pevsner |first2=Nikolaus |date=1989 |publisher=Penguin books |isbn=978-0-14-071050-2 |edition=2nd ed. extensively revised |location=Harmondsworth}} It is a Grade I Listed building.{{Cite web |title=MOL'S COFFEE HOUSE, Non Civil Parish - 1104060 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1104060?section=official-list-entry |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}} The house is in the northern corner of Cathedral Close, adjoining Cathedral Yard and overlooking Cathedral Green and the North tower of the Cathedral. It is alongside St Martin's Church.
History
The building was used as a custom house from the late 16th century.{{Cite web |last=Merritt |first=Anita |date=2023-11-09 |title=New plans for one of Exeter's oldest 'trophy' buildings |url=https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/new-plans-one-exeters-oldest-8892982 |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=Devon Live |language=en}}
In 1726, the building opened as a coffee house called Mol's. It was run exclusively by women until it was closed in 1829, the first of these being Mary Wildy.
In 1833, the building became an art gallery occupied by John Gendall.
Mol's Coffee House was saved from being damaged by the fire that severely damaged the nearby Royal Clarence Hotel in 2016.{{Cite web |title=Exeter Memories - Mol's Coffee House |url=https://www.exetermemories.co.uk/em/molscoffee.php |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=www.exetermemories.co.uk}}
Architecture
File:Mol's Coffee House, Exeter - geograph.org.uk - 611790.jpg
The building is of four floors with a timber-framed front.
A central panel painted with the Royal Arms was installed circa 1885, replacing a carved version.
The third storey features a distinctive curly Dutch gable of 19th century construction.
The first floor interior geatures late 16th century oak panelling and carvings.
See also
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