Exmouth historian: Clapp's Café

Clapp's was founded 260 years ago this year, and was founded as Clapp's of Tiverton in 1762 by John Clapp.

It was his grandson William Sharland Clapp who was sent by his father John to Exmouth in 1863 to take over Farncombe's Bakery on the Strand.

This was at West End House, adjacent to the Thomas Tucker building. The Tiverton side of the business continued and Edward ran it after his father died.

It was then called Edward Clapp and Son, Confectioners until the 1960s when at some point it closed.

In 1867 the shop on the Strand was badly damaged when there were food and bread riots in the town.

The business survived the riots and in 1868 Lord Rolle developed what is now called Rolle Street.

The business was the first to occupy a shop on this new street, on the corner of the Strand and Rolle Street, the site of the old Globe Hotel.

The opening of the restaurant

William and his wife Ellen had a son called Francis William Clapp, who was born in 1866.

He worked in the business with his father, until his father died in 1905. After this Francis then opened the restaurant on the first floor.

It was around 1912 that the business erected the metal bracket on the corner of the building on the first floor from which hung the famous Clapp's Café signs.

These remained there right up until the business ceased to trade in 1966. They then were taken down, the bracket remaining which it still does to this day.

It is not known what happened to the signs themselves but the family would love to have them back!

One of Francis and Eliza's children was your historian's grandfather, Leslie John Clapp, born in 1894.

He and his brother William (known as Billy) worked in the business with their father.

In 1914, they both volunteered in the Army and when the war ended in 1918 Billy remained in the army as a career soldier but Leslie left the army and returned to Exmouth to work with his father.

In 1928, extensive alterations were carried out to the premises with two further rooms opened on the second floor called The Green Room and The Orange Room.

These were used as meeting rooms and for wedding receptions etc. In 1928 the business became a limited company F W Clapp and Sons Ltd.

In 1940, Francis died and Leslie became managing director.

Silver service

During the Second World War, the business was fortunate not to suffer any bomb damage. The business continued to flourish being the place to have morning coffee and luncheon.

The first floor restaurant was a full 'silver service' restaurant where the waitresses were smartly attired in black and white.

It was a true family business with your historian's Aunt Phyllis in charge of the restaurant and the welfare of the female staff, while Leslie and your historian's Uncle Percy responsible for the amazing confectionery.

In 1965 Leslie and Phyllis both retired and Percy followed in 1966 and as there was no one in the family able to carry on the business the decision was taken to cease trading on 1 October 1966.

The café shut its doors for the last time after 204 years of trading, of which 103 years had been in Exmouth.

The building was sold and after various tenants over the years it is now currently occupied by Palm at the front and Franklins at the rear.

If you would like to know more please visit the museum's website or you can email Mike at [email protected].

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Ed: This article is from Mike Menhenitt's Walking Through Exmouth History series. Use the links below to read previous articles:

Part One: The beginnings of Exmouth, from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age

Part Two: Exmouth in the Iron Age - and the arrival of the Celts

Part Three: Roman coins and Viking raids

Part Four: The impact of the Norman conquest, and how places in Exmouth got their names

Part Five: How Exmouth became a fashionable seaside resort in the 18th century

Part Six: How the docks brought prosperity to Exmouth - and then became the marina

Part Seven: The coming of the railway