Mother Clap's Molly House: The Gay Subculture in England 1700-1830

by Rictor Norton

This pioneering study breaks new ground in presenting the gay community's history by sporting one of its more distinctive branches—molly houses. In this updated edition, with two new chapters, Rictor Norton digs deeper into both past and present to rediscover the original foundations of the molly subculture and challenges traditional notions by suggesting that it was primarily composed of the working class—blacksmiths, milkmen, publicans, and shoemakers. More extravagant personalities are investigated as well, such as dramatists Samuel Foote and Isaac Bickerstaff, and the Rev. John Church, denounced for blessing gay "marriages."

Genres: History, Nonfiction, LGBT, Queer, Gender and Sexuality, Research, Gay

352 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

For any gay person who ever wanted to know LGBTQ+ history, this book has SOOOOO much information on everything: From where some of the effeminate nicknames like queer, gay, fairy, came from; drag queens, transvestites, bisexuals, lesbians; gay figures in politics, prostitution, military, the church, and even royalty (Yes King George and King James), hell even lesbian pirates; A ton of information is retained in this 250+ page book all taken from prison records, court documents, balladeers, newspapers, diaries, playwrights of the time, journals and diaries, and love letters from between 1700-1830. It's really a cool read.

[Gilly McGillicuddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh come, with a title like that you know I had to read it. It was very readable, both when he was talking about the molly subculture in general and when he was talking about certain gay men in particular, so it both satisfied my lust for stories and for history. Nice.

[Liam Ostermann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an absolute must for anyone interested in gay history during the 18th and early 19th Century. By combing through records of criminal prosecutions for buggery, and the documents kept by the Societies which suppressed 'vice', Rictor Norton has amassed an enormous wealth of evidence about a heretofore unknown subculture. He’s able to prove that our own century was not the first to have cruising grounds, gay bars or even a sense of gay pride. On the contrary, our own views on homosexuality and our own modern gay culture have their roots in the gay culture of the 18th Century.

Norton holds that the specific subculture we see in the 18th Century did not spring to life in that century, but was merely revealed as a result of the purges organized by the newly formed Societies for the Reformation of Manners. These societies organized ordinary people to shop their neighbours for immoral behaviour, and as a result an awful lot of gay men were prosecuted for buggery but also for the first time we have documented existence not just of one or two isolated individuals but of a whole culture of homosexuality.

In successive chapters, Norton explores how playwright’s displayed a knowledge of this culture; the locations of the cruising grounds; the most famous gay bars (or Molly Houses). Norton also covers the molly’s slang, some of their stranger rituals – like the practice of having pretend marriages, and sometimes even pretend childbirth. We’re introduced to an enormous variety of characters, from blackmailers to Dukes. I have to admit my heart was warmed to read of the butcher ‘Princess Seraphina’, who borrowed the clothes of his female neighbours and was obviously treated as one of the girls by the neighbourhood. It was also good to read of Reverend John Church, the ‘child of peculiar Providence’, who as a gay priest had worked out a theology of God’s love long before our own time, and officiated at some of the marriages at The Swan molly house.

I really could go on and on - the book is superb - my much worn copy sits with pride on my shelves I would never throw it out. Although not strictly relevant I highly recommend Richtor Norton's web site at: https://rictornorton.co.uk/.

[Maxine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gossipy, somewhat scattered, and rather too concerned with trans-historical claims about “gay identity” to be an accurate portrayal of the time. But the author nevertheless manages to be quite entertaining and enlightening about the state of legal and social prejudice against same-sex activity pre-Victorian era.

[Eavan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great resource to start looking into 18th-century gay culture. It's endlessly interesting. (Also a good book to keep around and spout some #knowledge with your gay friends. Earn a little cred here and there, ya know?)

[Karen-Leigh]

This is the book I want but it is horrendously expensive and I have been unable to find a supplier. The book I did get was a rip off of the title by someone else..

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, especially the first part was a wonderful look at gay subculture in the early 18th century. It really is a fascinating period as so well documented lives of ordinary people. And also looks at the organised bigotry against them and the way that increased punishment, but thankfully how that fell out of favour.

There were a couple bits that read quite dated now. Taking Ned Ward's description as historically accurate and not satire. Also the chapter on lesbians. Norton decided that the "female friendships" couldn't possibly be sexual, or actually lesbians, despite women living together or writing love letters. And yet "true" lesbians would have to dress up as men to love women. I was like DUDE even a gay historian centuries later didn't think they were up to anything. Pretty sure they were safe at the time! He also dismissed trans people as something that sexologists came up with in the 1860s. When yes they'd clearly been there all along.

[Virginia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although the book explores rich and fascinating primary sources, the author's less than scholarly tone and biased analysis weakens any arguments made for a wide-spread "sub-culture" as we might identify it today. The author lost me when he treated one man turned King's Evidence to avoid prosecution for sodomy as a total villain, but treated another man with compassion or even sympathy even though that man had his male lovers rape his wife more than once (he held her arms during the process, of course) and deflower his 12 year old daughter/stepdaughter/niece (can't remember precisely, but I do recall there being a specific note about liberal use of lubricant to ease the process). Overall, the subject matter was fascinating, the primary resources were wonderful, but the author's tone was so skewed as to weaken the work considerably.

[Nicki Markus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was trying to get a copy of Mother Clap's Molly House - The Gay Subculture in England 1700-1830 for ages, but the few available were so expensive. Finally I saw one a little cheaper and snapped it up, and I'm so glad I did. This is an impressive study which sheds light on homosexuality in the Georgian era. As an MM writer keen on historical settings, this will be invaluable to me, aside from my general interest in the topic. It is clearly well-researched, yet the prose is approachable and not stodgy, making it a great resource for both the history student and the casual reader. This is a book I know I will be referring back to again and again.

[Bryn Greenwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably the definitive work on the gay subculture of 18th and 19th century London. Provided a great deal of amusement, but more importantly, some key research on a historical novel I'm planning. Read it for the depth of knowledge or just read it for fun.