Roman & Medieval Exeter

We joined one of Exeter's Red Coat Walking Tours and visited the excellent Royal Albert Memorial Museum to find out about the city's history.  

The Romans arrived in AD49 establishing a military fort where the Cathedral now stands and around AD120 the first city wall was built.  Exeter is still enclosed by these Roman walls!  Early in the 5th century after nearly 400 years of occupation the Romans abandoned Britain. The Anglo Saxons became establised in Exeter around 658.

Exeter's medieval period spans from 1068 when William the Conqueror took the city and started building Rougemont Castle.  The gatehouse which still stands is the oldest castle building of this type in Britain. (One of the extras shows the gatehouse and Roman walls).There are a number of well preserved late-medieval merchant houses showing Exeter's importance as a trading post. 

Exeter's Cathedral Church of St Peter was built in two stages. The first in Romanesque style was started in 1114 by Bishop Warelwast, William the Conqueror's nephew.  But a bigger and grander cathedral was needed so in 1270 began the building of the gothic style cathedral of today (see the extra).  The Norman twin towers are all that remains of the original church. 

We left Exeter with a great impression.  It's a compact walkable city with lots of interest.