Royal Clarence Hotel, Cathedral Close, Exeter, Devon
The buildings around Cathedral Close include the Royal Clarence Hotel and Moll's Coffee House. The Royal Clarence Hotel was built by William Mackworth Praed in 1769 as the Assembly Rooms. On 7th September 1770, the landlord, a Frenchman called Pierre Berlon, placed an advert using the word hôtel for the first time. It was named later after the Duchess of Clarence (Queen Adelaide), wife of the future William IV, who stayed there in July 1827. William Praed also established Exeter's first bank in 1769. The Exeter Bank was situated to the right of the hotel. It became the first Deller' s Cafe in Exeter during 1906. Both buildings are now (2011) part of the present Royal Clarence Hotel and little changed in appearance.
