Exmouth historian: Clapp's Cafe and the development of the town centre

At the time of the bread riots, the development of the town was already in the planning with the passing of the Rolle Estate Act in 1865 which principally gave the trustees of the Rolle Estates the power to grant 99 year leases to occupiers of any development of business premises and houses.

This led to the rapid development of not only buildings, but roads, pathways, parks and gardens etc, much of which are still in evidence today.

In July 1867, Mr G Channing of Manchester House submitted on behalf of the Clinton Devon Estates to the Local Health Board (forerunners of the Local Council) copies of plans for the development of Mr Clapp's house on Rolle Street, on the corner of Strand.

The Board met on 16 July 1867 and approved these plans which were reported on in The Plymouth & Exeter Gazette on 19 July 1867.

It was your historian's great-great-grandfather, William Sharland Clapp, who had the distinction of owning the first house on the new development and moved his business from West End House on the Strand to it in 1868.

Your historian's family archives have all the correspondence and plans relating to this, and the finished building provided Clapp's with business premises and living facilities for the family above.

The picture above shows the newly completed building in 1868.

Silver service

Clapp's traded there and the building was further improved by your historian's great-grandfather, Francis William Clapp during the 1920s and again in the 1950s.

There was the addition of the first-floor silver service restaurant which became 'the place to be seen and have one's coffee and luncheon'.

Your historian's grandfather Leslie John Clapp's retirement in 1966 forced the closure of the business after 204 years, primarily because there was no-one in the family able to succeed him, your historian being still at school.

The building is much as it was, and is Grade II listed, with currently the front part being occupied by Palm and the rear part, which was the former offices, baking ovens and kitchens, being occupied by Franklins.

Franklins on the Strand, Exmouth (Nub News/ Will Goddard)

The interior of the building still retains its original grand staircase leading to the restaurant where the fireplace still is.

Many people in the town still remember Clapp's with great affection as some either worked there, visited for coffee etc or had their wedding receptions there on the second floor, in the two function rooms, the Green Room and the Orange Room.

In the hayloft at the museum there is a display of the history of Clapp's with many photographs etc which will no doubt bring back many memories for some just as it does for your historian and his family.

Other developments

The development of Rolle Street continued apace over the next forty years with such names as Jabez Bennetts the high class grocers and provisions, Crews & Sons, Aclands Supply Stores, Cole Bros fire places and kitchen ranges, Anderson drapers, Creedy's Shoes, Chown's Outfitters, Toone Chemists, to name but a few.

Further up, almost opposite Holy Trinity Church, was The Rolle Hotel and the Post Office, which did not originally occupy that building.

It seems to have moved around a lot, which included occupying what was later used as the General Post Office (GPO) Telephone Exchange. It finally moved in 1911 to the impressive building at the top end of Rolle Street.

Postal deliveries were at 7.30am and 2.25pm every day, including Saturdays and on Sunday one had to put up with only one delivery!

A far cry from today where the Post Office occupies part of WHSmith's shop in The Magnolia Centre and there is only one delivery which happens at any time of the day and there are none on Sundays! Such is progress!

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 is the 14th part of 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

Part Eight: Turnpikes, toll houses and inns in Exmouth

Part Nine: Jobs your ancestors had in the town through the ages