Thanks, Mabel! Sounds like he was off to Exeter almost before the ink was dry on the 1901 census then (not that it makes any difference really, but interesting to have a picture of his movements).
MonicaL - it was Rhuabon again. I've put more faith in that since he gave it himself in 1911 and 1921, whereas in 1901 he was just a boarder and perhaps had less control over what was written (obviously Mold is the nearest big town to R(h)uabon though).