Molly Houses Emerge in London
From the early 18th century, 'molly houses' — taverns, coffee houses, and private rooms where men met for socialising and sexual encounters — became an established part of London's underground culture. Mother Clap's molly house in Holborn, raided in 1726, is the best documented. These spaces provided early examples of queer community and subculture, with their own slang, rituals, and mock marriage ceremonies.
Impact & Significance
Molly houses represent some of the earliest documented queer community spaces in England, showing that LGBTQ+ people created supportive subcultures despite severe legal persecution.
Reference Record
- Date
- c. 1700s
- Era
- 1800s
- Sources
- 2
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