Tinley's Cafe, 2 Broadgate, Cathedral Yard

This tea shop and restaurant served the people of Exeter and visitors alike, for many years, from premises that give one of the finest views of the Cathedral there is. The history of the building is complex, as it was adjacent to the ancient Broadgate, demolished in 1824.

Situated on one side of Broadgate, parts of the rear interior of Tinley's (Pizza Express) date from the 16th-century. The old Broadgate and the timber fronted buildings on each side were set back from Cathedral Yard. In the front of the timber framed buildings, there was, at a later date, constructed on the corner, a double storey shop.

The old Broadgate was demolished in December 1824 and the carriageway between the High Street and Cathedral Yard widened. The corner building was reconstructed in 1825, with the narrow front curving round to the side along the new Broadgate thoroughfare. The adjacent single story shop was built over and blended into the corner building in 1830 and is essentially the building as seen today.

Before 1793, when it became a confectioner, the shop was occupied by James Upjohn, a watch maker. The premises changed ownership several times, as a confectioners, until 1829 when Miss Sarah Marden took on the business. In 1833 she married James Murch an accountant of St Martin's parish, and around about then the business became Murch's. Despite his profession, James Murch's father was a baker, allowing Murch's to claim in the 1882 they had been trading since 1780.

For a number of years during the 1840s and early 1850s, the premises to the right of Murch's were occupied by John Treadwin, a watchmaker. He married, in 1850, Charlotte Dobbs who went on to produce some of the highest quality Honiton lace in the country, from 5 Cathedral Close, as Mrs Charlotte Treadwin. The rear of the National Westminster Bank now occupies the site of Treadwin's watch business.

Murch's Restaurant

The first reference to Murch's, as a confectioners in the Flying Post, was an advert for a young person to manage a dairy and kitchen in 1849. Sarah Murch, widow, is listed in the 1861 census at the address as a confectioner. Her son James was working for her while her second son had become an ironmonger's assistant and her youngest child, Sarah was a shop assistant. James Murch, Sarah Murch's late husband had been a wine merchant (listed as an accountant for their wedding) in South Street until his death in 1854. In 1876, J C Goff married A Murch at St Martin's Church, although the two names would not be joined in business until 1882, when it became Murch Goff and Co.

An important part of the business was catering for wedding breakfasts, and supplying wedding cakes, judging by the many reports on local weddings. They became purveyors of Horniman's Tea and for some strange reason were agents for "... the magical polish for ballroom floors." Many adverts from the Edwardian period and First War show photos of Murch's Cathedral Restaurant and Cafe.

Arts and crafts

Murch and Goff closed in 1917, and in 1920, the premises became the Broadgate Mart, an antiques saleroom run by Mark Rowe and Co. The business did not last long and in1924, the premises became an arts and crafts business called Glebelands, after the Women's Institute purchased the building. Selling Honiton lace, pictures, jewelry, pottery, candies and toys, they were well placed to take advantage of the tourists visiting the Cathedral. A feature in the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette from 1924 stated:

In addition to the Gallery already opened for the Exhibition and Sale of Original and Hand Work of all kinds, the Organisers of Glebelands are opening a small CLUB for LADIES. The Motto of this small rendezvous is: "Thought, Culture, and Quietude/" There simple and comfortable accommodation most conveniently situated at the heart Exeter, and should be very useful to many people who come to the city for meetings, shopping, and other business. No formal "opening" has been arranged, as the very "Being" of this Club is "Quietude," but those to whom it will appeal are cordially invited to visit the premises from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., when they may obtain all details from the Secretary, or to write for them. The premises Lounge, Drawing-room, a Writing-room, two small Tea-rooms, a rest-room, and two Dressing-rooms. .

Tinley's opens

It was in 1930 that Mrs Tinley opened her famous tearooms and had the Tinley's sign fixed across the top of the building. Luncheons in the 1930's cost 1s 4d and 1s 8d (about 7p and 8p) and people would drop in for a 'waffle and quick lunch'. At first, the shop baked 2 dozen savories per day, but by 1965, their bakery in Sidwell Street was turning out 200 dozen! The bombing of 1942, spared many buildings in Cathedral Close. However, the proximity of so many large explosions caused movement in the upper floors and Tinley's had to be evacuated to a new cafe in Blackboy Road, while the building was reinforced with steel.

In 1961, Mr and Mrs Reginald Ellis took over the teashop, retaining the name, and in 1965 they opened their Sidwell Street premises. Another change of ownership occurred in 1987 when Pascal and Jane Thomas took over, but after a dispute with their landlords, the teashop finally closed as Tinley's in August 1992. In March 1993 it reopened, named French Sticks. Gone was the English style afternoon tea, and in was coffee, croissants and French pastries. The new owners tried to introduce tables on the pavement, but the City Council saw fit to stop them, and within two years they had closed.

The premises were taken over by Pizza Express and Exeter Archaeology were called to investigate the premises before a refitting. They established that the oldest parts of the building dated from the 16th-century and there was no evidence of the old Cathedral Close wall running through the building. After refurbishment, Pizza Express were open for business in 1996. Pizza Express has done a good job at retaining many of the features of the old building, and even their sign out side is nicely subdued, while keeping the striking Tinley's sign across the top of the building.

Source: Various sources including Gates of the Close by M Fodor and Exeter guidebooks from 1910 to 1930. Exeter City Council Timetrail, the Express and Echo, Flying Post and Dick Passmore.