Never thought I would feel sad for the loss of a building (other than my own home, of course), but the last couple of days in Exeter has left me desperately sad.
Born in London, raised in Devon, lived all over the world, but now back in Devon for good. Ask me for the big 3 buildings in Exeter & I would say:
The Cathedral, because it's the cathedral & everything else in Exeter defers to it.
Bobby's (formerly Debenhams, now John Lewis), because it was probably the ugliest building in Britain (Still is, because it is so prominent on the city's skyline).
The Clarence, because it was so nice and comforting.
Back in the late 60's, we lived in one of the most backward & remote corners of Devon. For various reasons to do with education, religion, family, logistics and who knows what all else, it was decided that my siblings and I should go to boarding schools on the far side of the country where grandparents lived. 
As the oldest, I was first to go; but the trip up to grandparents for the handover was clearly a problem for struggling self-employed parents. So, aged 10, I volunteered to do the journey on my own, provided I was provided with a smoked salmon sandwich from the Royal Clarence (I had already worked out how to get from Paddington to Liverpool St, so the journey was a doddle). This offer was readily accepted, and smoked salmon sandwiches from the Royal Clarence became a staple part of my schooling: the filling was definitely thicker than the slices of bread, and they were thick enough! 
I love smoked salmon, and eat it whenever I can; but I don't think I have eaten a smoked salmon sandwich since I moved to secondary school 40+ years ago... Not a conscious decision, but I think a recognition that no one was ever going to do a better smoked salmon sandwich than the late, lamented and very smokey Clarence. 
I do hope that I am not the only one who has happy memories of this wonderful place at the apex of Exeter's cathedral green.
AIBU?
TO MOURN THE LOSS OF THE ROYAL CLARENCE, EXETER?
hottentottentott · 29/10/2016 22:04
I'm an Exeter girl but moved away some years ago. It's really struck me how useless I feel being so far away. Which is ridiculous as there's nothing i could do if I was there anyway. But it makes my heart hurt the green had already changed before we left, all the trees I used to sit under and play with baby dd and get takeout pizzas from ASK and eat on the green were felled some time ago so when we went back last year the green seemed too open and empty than how it should have done to me. I'm really feeling a lure to go back to Exeter and almost pay my respects, see if for myself. I still can't believe it's gone. And thank his it wasn't worse. But what a scar on the city this will be, for so long the reminder of what was lost will be there for all to see. I hope they manage to salvage what they can for the museum and then hopefully rebuild.
We're all gutted here. So many memories of my kids playing and eating on that green weaving our way through those eating right in front of the hotel,kid's grandparents treating us now and again to a drink and meeting us there on their day trips down from London. Always a lovely atmosphere.
Surely they could rebuild it in keeping,very similar.
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