Smythen Street and Butchers Row

As the name implies, Smythen Street was home to the blacksmith industry of Exeter. It is situated in the old west quarter of Exeter, which was a notoriously poor area in the 19th and early 20th century. The main way into Exeter during the 11th and 12th century from the west, was through West Gate, up Stepcote Hill and Smythen Street. The original line of the route which is Roman, continued across South Street and cut across the modern Cathedral Yard to the east of St Petroc's, across Broadgate to enter the High Street approximately opposite the Guildhall. The map is circa 1905.

The street was home to Thomas Benet who was found guilty of heresy for pinning notices on the Cathedral door stating 'We ought to worship God only and no saints'. He was burnt at the stake, at Livery Dole, on 15th January 1532. The top part of Smythen Street housed Butchers Row, where one side of the street was lined with nineteen butchers' shops, built by the City Chamber in 1499 and 1500. During the Cholera outbreak of 1832, Butchers Row and all around were fumigated in afutile attempt to prevent the spread of the disease. W G Hoskins states in 1961, in 2000 Years in Exeter, that he thought some older residents of Exeter may still remember the shops. Trade directories from the late 19th Century have no butchers listed in the street. Butchers Row was effectively removed when the Lower Market replaced the Corn Exchange in 1835. The new building was twice the depth and lay across the top of Smythen Street. The Lower Market offered a purpose built space for the butchers of Exeter.

As mentioned, Butchers Row was situated at the top of Smythen Street, and approximately where George's Hall is now. The Exeter Pocket Journal in 1796 throws up this little interesting extract:

Yelland, Jos, cheesemonger, butchers-row
Youldon, Jas. butcher, butchers-row
Youldon, Edmund. butcher, butchers-row
Youldon, Benj. butcher, butchers-row
Youldon, Sam. butcher, butchers-row
Youldon, Jas. butcher, southgate-street
Youldon, Thos. butcher, george's-lane  - is the top of Smythen St
Youldon, Grace. butcher, george's-lane
Youldon, S. grocer, high-street

Although there were other butchers in Butcher Row at this time, the list indicates how the trade was kept in the family.

Alexander Jenkins wrote in 1806 of Butchers Row:

"...consists of a narrow street, the buildings, in general, low and mean, with heavy hanging window shutters. Here the knights of the steel reside in a kind of community among themselves, slaughter their cattle and expose their meat for sale....the slaughtering of cattle, with the accumulation of dung, blood and thrown in heaps behind the houses, makes the Butchers Row a noisome place in the summer".

The following street directory indicates that by 1897, there were no butchers shops in Smythen Street.

Smythen street, Market street to King street.
1 Partridge Charles, shopkpr
2 Denham D. & Co. wholesale haberdashers
4 Horwill. Wm. Hy. forage dlr
5 Raddan George, shopkeepr
7 Ingledon Wm. Jas. boot ma(ker)
10 Evans, Gadd & Co. druggists
12 Hitt Thomas, bird dealer
    Wilcocks & Wilcocks (warehouse)
    Mortimore John, wood dlr
13 YouldonSamuel, shopkeepr
14 Lee Albert Edwd. wood dlr
15 Vaughan Thomas, marine store dealer
18 Lee William, baker
19 Perry Mrs. Frances, shpkpr
20 Roleston Mrs. Ann, brush maker here is King st
22 Baston John, furniture bro
23 Stephens Mrs. Harriet, shopkeeper
24 Collins Edwd. Wm.shopkpr
25 Steer Mrs. Mary, shopkeepr
28 Daw Thomas, general dealr
    .....here is John st.....
Wilcocks & Wilcocks (warehouse) (tea)
Evans, Gadd & Co.'s Warehouses
Denham D. & Co. haberdashers
On the corner of John Street and Smythen Street could be found:
     Coachmakers' Arms P.H. Mrs. Annie Westlake

Source: Various sources including Kelly's 1897