Mol's House - Cathedral Close
1 Cathedral Close/ Mol's House is situated in the heart of Exeter, occupying the northwest corner of the Cathedral Green. The site dates back to the early 15th century, when it formed part of the Annuellars' College granted to the cathedrals chantry priests in 1410. Following disbandment during the Reformation in the 1530's, the building passed into private ownership and was completely remodelled in 1596 as the City's Custom House. In 1726 it reopened as a coffeehouse, widely considered to be one of the earliest of its kind in England. It became known as Mol's after its first proprietor Mary Wildly, and was run exclusively by Women until its closure in 1829.
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The building itself is an enchanting 16th-century timber-framed townhouse, nestled between a quaint church on one side and an elegant Tudor building on the other. Its distinctive, white-painted façade, is beautifully adorned with two striking oriel windows on both the first and second floors. A full-width timber balcony graces the third floor; adding to the home’s charming character whilst offering a panoramic outlook across the Cathedral Green, showcasing the full grandeur of the Cathedral and the picturesque uplands of the Exe Valley beyond.
Inside Mol’s House, the grand reception room, known as The Oak Room, has been attentively refurbished as a stunning entrance on the first floor. Its elegant oak-panelled walls are adorned with the intricate coats of arms of Devon nobility, and the rich oak colour is complimented by two wide window seats painted a calming green. A stately feature fireplace has also been restored, creating what is undoubtedly a statement room.
At the rear of the property a run-down lean-to was transformed into a delightful walled garden featuring a York Stone paved path, seating areas, and bordered raised beds. A new entrance was created giving Mol’s House access via a shared passageway to a private entrance. A bespoke staircase, crafted from green oak and screened for privacy, leads up to the front door.
The frontage has been repainted, and the ornate finial has been restored to pride of place atop the property, restoring the exterior to its original grandeur and enhancing the building’s presence. Restoration of key external architectural features has further strengthened its contribution to the surrounding streetscape.
The upper floors have been transformed into a distinctive residential townhouse and a beautiful home that is now registered as Mol’s House. Careful integration of original historic elements with bespoke modern finishes has ensured that the character of the building has been preserved while creating a fully operational home.
The top floor showcases an incredible combined living room and kitchen area with a soaring vaulted ceiling and beautifully exposed roof timbers. The room is light and airy with windows on all four sides and access to the full-width timber balcony. The original range is framed by a characterful fireplace, producing a decorative piece of history. In keeping with the room’s original features, bespoke timber kitchen units and sympathetic cast iron radiators were installed by Master craftsmen, creating a truly gorgeous living space.
Following sympathetic restoration, the development at 1 Cathedral Close is now complete, marking the completion of a comprehensive refurbishment programme undertaken with full respect for the building’s historic fabric. The basement and ground floor have been brought into active commercial use and have become the home of ‘The Whisky Shop’; an exciting business that perfectly embodies the unique character and charm of the Cathedral Close building.
We have restored and refurbished this historic Grade I listed property, preserving and enhancing its remarkable character through sensitive restoration and active reuse. The basement and ground floor are used as a luxury shop, while the upper three floors have created a stunning two bedroom townhouse, delivering a unique residential environment within Exeter’s historic core. This scheme carefully blends the building’s captivating history and original features with a sensitively modernised interior, balancing heritage conservation with high-quality modern functionality and resulting in a truly extraordinary home. By creating a vibrant property that contributes positively to the cathedral close setting, the project demonstrates Akkeron Group’s commitment to heritage-led regeneration.
Development Leads
Development
Manger
Nicola Nash
Graduate
Development
Manager
Ayse Karakullah
Our Partners
Akkeron Construction Services
Historic England
KTA Architects
Avalon Planning and Heritage
X Consulting Engineers
Foot Anstey LLP
Fine and Country