Mother Clap's Molly House
On the streets of 18th-century London, there thrived an underground world pulsating with life, love, and the pursuit of happiness.
On the streets of 18th-century London, where society donned its most respectable façade, there thrived an underground world pulsating with life, love, and the pursuit of happiness. In this hidden realm, a figure emerged, an unlikely yet formidable hero—Mother Clap.
London’s vibrant LGBTQ+ scene has a storied past, tracing back much further than most may assume. Records suggest that the 1700s saw more gay pubs and clubs than today, and the evidence of a developing culture begins in the 17th century. Samuel Pepys, for instance, in his diaries, remarks on how commonplace it was to meet a gentleman who preferred the sterner sex: (“..buggery is now almost grown as common among our gallants as in Italy…”). Yet, in 18th-century England, under the Buggery Act 1533, sexual acts between men were punishable by fine, imprisonment, or even death.
Despite the harsh penalties, men found ways to meet covertly. “Molly Houses”, ranging from backroom gatherings to meetups in larger taverns, served as sanctuaries where men could gather safely. The terms ‘molly’, ‘molly-coddles’ and ‘mollies’ were slurs used to describe homosexual men; however, over time, the term was reclaimed as a positive identifier, much like ‘queer’ has been reclaimed today. While some molly houses were brothels, most were more akin to coffeehouses, offering a place to enjoy drinks and conversation. One of the more popular molly houses in 18th-century London was Mother Clap’s, which stood on Field Lane, Holborn. Owned by John Clap but operated by his wife, Margaret ‘Mother’ Clap, it stood out among other venues for Mother Clap’s evident care for her clientele. It became a hub for the gay community, offering lodging and support—Margaret even provided false testimonies to protect some guests from sodomy charges.
This refuge, however, was compromised when a police raid in 1726 led to the discovery of, as one officer put it, “fifty men making Love to one another as they call'd it.” Margaret Clap was subsequently tried and convicted of operating a ‘disorderly house’. She faced public humiliation in the pillory at Smithfield, a hefty fine, and two years in prison. The raid also resulted in more tragic fates for many; three men, Gabriel Lawrence, William Griffin, and Thomas Wright, were executed for sodomy at Tyburn gallows near what is now Marble Arch.
Little is known of what became of Margaret Clap following her arrest. The precise details of her life before and after her trial remain shrouded in mystery. However, the story of her molly house offers a small glimpse into the life of a woman who dared to provide a space of acceptance and joy.