Jessie Blanche Mollett was born in Richmond, Surrey on 13th November, 1881. She eventually moved to Rye where she opened an antique shop.
She later moved to Appledore in the 1920s to the property now known as Old Way Cottage where she lived until her death on 28th February, 1970 at the age of 88. During her time in the village she bought several properties – an early buy-to-let – landlord, and opened the tea room and guest house pictured. This thrived until the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 when she gave up the business. She is buried in Appledore Churchyard nearby.
Alexandra and John Cowell moved to Appledore with their family on the day of the great storm of 1987. Alex’s sister Frances MacDonald and her husband Alan joined them twenty years later in 2007. They decided to realise a long held ambition to open a tea room to serve the many visitors to the village, as well as providing a meeting place for the local residents.
Both sisters have been researching their family history and were contacted by Sue, their 4th cousin, twice removed. Imagine their surprise when they learnt from Sue of a long lost relative, Jessie Mollett, who had had the same idea! When thinking of a name for our tea room Miss Mollett’s seemed the natural choice – we hope she approves.
Our tea shop previously housed a well known antiques and collectibles shop called High Class Junk, which in turn took its name from its predecessor, High Class Butchers! We thought it fitting to continue the theme, Hence:
Miss Mollett’s High Class Tea Room
