Exeter Historic Buildings Trust

21 The Mint Project

It was only through the dedication and passion of one woman that a wonderful old monastery building was rescued from years of neglect and decay. Carol Griffiths simply fell in love with the crumbling, bramble-covered stone ruin when on a conducted walking tour of Exeter in 1995. Discovering the site was on the market and also the house on the English Heritage Buildings at Risk register, she determined, somehow, to acquire it and bring it back to life. Consequently, with no previous experience but with advice from the National Association of Preservation Trusts, she founded Exeter Historic Building Trust the following year. Gathering around her a team of specialists and supportive trustees, and with the assistance of a grant from the Architectural Heritage Fund, the Trust was able to commission Niall Phillips Architects of Bristol to carry out a feasibility study.

The Trust set about seeking grant aid for restoration. Grants were secured from the Heritage Lottery Fund and English Heritage, with the condition that there would be a commercially viable end-use for the building, and that it would be open to the public for 10 days a year. What an undertaking. A full programme of archaeological recording formed part of the restoration work and, in recognition of this, Exeter City Council also gave grants.

Restoration was a roller-coaster of highs and lows. The Trust was able to secure a 125 year lease at a peppercorn rent from the owners, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Plymouth, in 1998. As be-grimed layers of cladding, lath and plaster and limewash and wallpaper, applied over the last four centuries, were painstakingly peeled away, the almost complete survival of the medieval priory refectory was revealed, together with many other significant, exciting and magical discoveries; but the process of carrying out the restoration was a minefield of requirements and very hard work, punctuated by considerable setbacks.

In December 1999 the building was invaded by squatters, who used Georgian cupboard panels for firewood before they could be evicted. Then the initial builders went bankrupt and pulled out, leaving the stripped, medieval roof timbers propped up and open to the elements, protected only by tarpaulins, until new specialists contractors from Dorset took on the job halfway through. By March 2001, the Trust had successfully raised the additional funding needed, not only to cover the new contractor's increased costs, but also the further costs incurred by the exciting but quite unexpected discovery of a medieval, carved and painted oak screen. The contractors work was first class.

The former Refectory range (known as 21 The Mint) of the 11th century St Nicholas Priory, which now includes a delightful first-floor apartment and a house over three storeys - with a host of historic features, is leased to nearby St Olaves Hotel, who let it out as 'serviced accommodation'. The Trust retains the large room under the handsome 15th-century arch-braced roof as an office and meeting room. It is frequently open to visitors, featuring on the City's Red Coat guided tours. The Trust also retains the courtyard (former cloister) garden.

Seven years on in June 2002, the Grade II* listed 21 The Mint was officially opened by Peter Beacham of English Heritage - a treasure for Exeter, reflecting almost a thousand years of the City's past, and a huge achievement for Carol and everyone involved with the superb restoration.

In April 2004 the Trust was very honoured to receive a visit from HRH The Prince of Wales for a tour of the building. He was fascinated by the tales of the 'ups and downs' of our first project, whilst enjoying a Devonshire cream tea beneath the arch-braced roof in our meeting room.

Due to the rescue of an exceptionally important, but uneconomic 21 The Mint, the rest of the site (former RC church (1792) and RC schoolroom (1855)) was acquired by developers and sensitively converted into eight plus two apartments, resulting in today's pleasing complex.

Funding Sources for 21 The Mint

History of 21 The Mint | History of St Nicholas Priory