Exeter Historic Buildings Trust

History of 21 The Mint

No 21 The Mint represents the former Refectory wing of the llth C Benedictine Priory of St Nicholas founded on the authority of William the Conqueror. It was a high single storey dining hall open to the roof, but with the Eastern end, on the other side of a timber and plaster partition, arranged in two or three storeyed chambers.

The Priory consisted of four ranges around a square, roofed cloister walkway, with a central garth (garden) The great Priory church occupied the South side and the West range comprised the Prior's chamber, splendid Guest hall etc and a large kitchen, which also served the adjoining Refectory in the North range. The monks lived, worked and prayed here for 450 years, with building and re-building continuing throughout, as funds permitted. Much of what we see today dates from their major re-building of the 15th century.

Following the Dissolution in 1536, the monks were pensioned off. The church, adjoining Chapter House, dormitory and cloisters were pulled down, but leaving the outline of the cloisters. The Northern and Western ranges survived and were sold off by the Crown, passing through several hands until 1562, when the estate passed into the ownership of one, Robert Mallet, a wealthy Somerset gentleman, whose family retained much of the site for the next 200 years, leasing it out.

In the later 16th century these two buildings were converted into a single large mansion but, in the mid 17th century, the property was again divided and became two independent dwellings. The Refectory hall itself was sub-divided into several storeys, with rooms on three floors, including in the arch-braced roof space. Mint Lane was also created at this time, cutting through the Western side of the former cloister and the Hall's screens passage where it abutted the old monastery kitchen.

Then followed multiple occupation until 1775 when a tenancy was taken of what became No 21 by the Roman Catholic Mission. A priest was installed and a 'large upper chamber' was formed into a chapel where mass could be said.

In 1786 Lord Hugh Clifford of Chudleigh bought the range and garden (severing the last link with the Mallets) for the permanent use of the Catholics and two years later oversaw the building of the Roman Catholic church on the site of the medieval Chapter House. In 1855 the purpose-built Roman Catholic school of St. Nicholas was opened, facing the Refectory. Nuns came to teach the pupils.

The much-loved Reverend Dr George Oliver (see plaque on Mint Lane wall) was the Parish priest here from 1807 to 1851 and then, in retirement, lived a further ten years in 'The dwelling house' over the arch in Mint Lane. Following his death, the medieval arch and rooms were pulled down to widen the Lane in 1864.

In 1877 Lord Clifford gave the Deeds of "The Presbytery" No 21, the church and school to the Roman Catholic Bishop of Plymouth; the Diocese still owns the Freehold.

The Catholic presence ceased in 1959 when the school moved to premises in Holloway Street (The Roman Catholic church had been vacated in 1884 - later to be utilized by the school) but the school caretaker remained in occupation.

No. 21 and the old church were leased to The Exeter College of Art & Design from 1970 - 1989 for use as their printing department.

In 1991 the Roman Catholic Diocesan Trust put the empty and deteriorating buildings on the market.

History of St Nicholas Priory |21 The Mint project