Guinea Street

Most of this little street disappeared when the buildings around the old Lower Market were destroyed in the bombing of May 1942. There is a small passageway between South Street and George Street which is roughly where Guinea Street joined South Street. The street dates back to the time of Henry II - the name comes from the ancient word ginnel or gennel for narrow passage way.

The West Quarter was the poorest area of Exeter and had social deprivations worse than many other parts of Britain. This deprivation encouraged prostitution - probably the worst place during the 1840's was the Pestle and Mortar in Guinea Street. It provided lodgings 'for persons of the lowest class'. In 1839, the superintendant of police was instructed 'not to permit prostitution, nightwalkers or other disorderly persons to loiter in public streets or footways'.

More positively, Guinea Street was the site of the first fish and chip shop in Exeter. This extract from an 1897 street directory confirms a fish and chip shop in the street:

Guinea street, South street to Market street.
2 Preston J. fried fish shop
4 Wannell William, shopkpr
5 Northcote George, tailor
5A, Miller Rt. Hy. builder & c
6 Old Golden Lion P.H. Frederick John Walkey
6 J Hawkins John, boot makr
9 BrownstonWm.grindry.dlr
10 & 11 Burgess & Son, tin plate workers &c    
.....here is Market st.....
12 Royal Oak P.H. Herbert J. Webber
14 Hawkins George, tailor
15 Hooper Walter, painter
15 Overmass Geo. S. furnitr.dlr

Because of its proximity to South Street and Fore Street, Guinea Street suffered damage in the May 1942 air raid. A report stated:

"Guinea Street (West Side) - (New) Golden Lion Public House - shop property, Cottages and Garages at rear, Messrs Pearse & Co. - Hardware stores, destroyed by fire."

The New Golden Lion was one of 26 pubs and licensed premises destroyed that night.