Defence and Warfare

Timeline

Defence and Warfare Prehistory

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Defence and Warfare Roman Fortress

The legion at Exeter would have consisted of perhaps 6,000 men: ten cohorts of soldiers (each of six centuries containing 80 men) plus officers, cavalry and some specialist craftsmen. The legions were the backbone of the Roman army with heavily armed professional foot soldiers dressed in iron armour, equipped with sword and dagger, shield and javelin. The Second Augusta was founded by the Emperor Augustus. It served in Germany before coming to Britain in the invasion of AD 43 and had fought its way westward. The commander in the early stages of the campaign was the future emperor Vespasian, but he returned to Rome before the legion arrived at Exeter.

Defence and Warfare Roman Town

The city's defences distinguished Exeter from its less important neighbours - a symbol of authority, wealth and prestige, as well as security. The city wall, which still survives in large part today, was only one element of a system of defence which also included a rampart behind the wall, a large protective ditch in front of it, and gates.

Defence and Warfare Dark Age Town

The circuit of defences built by the Romans stood for centuries after they left. It remained an impressive defensive feature in the post-Roman period.

Defence and Warfare Saxon Town

Even after 500 years of decay, the Roman walls must have been a formidable barrier. In Alfred's reign only about half of the circuit seems to have been manned, but later in the Saxon period the entire circuit was defended against invading Viking armies (as in 997 and 1003) and later against the Norman army of William I. The discovery of late Saxon stonework in the city wall near the castle shows the walls were being maintained once more at this date.

Defence and Warfare Norman Town

After William the Conqueror's victory at Hastings in 1066, he sought to crush rebellion in the rest of the country. In 1068 he brought his army against Exeter - the centre of defiance in the South West. The city capitulated after an 18-day siege. William chose Rougemont for the site of a new castle to control the city. A massive bank and ditch were built surrounding a small enclosure in one corner of the Roman walls. Exeter Castle gatehouse is the oldest castle building standing in Britain. It was later besieged in the early 12th century by King Stephen who built a small ringwork castle of his own. Built of earth and timber it is now known (wrongly) as Danes Castle and stands behind Exeter Prison.

Defence and Warfare Medieval City

Exeter's old Roman defences were repeatedly repaired and strengthened in the middle ages. New gates were provided at each of the four entrances to the city - the north, east, west and south gates. The last two, which commanded the two busiest entries, were grand affairs with projecting bastions. The north and west gates were much more modest.

Defence and Warfare Tudor City

Exeter was at the centre of political life during the Tudor period. Its defences were needed to protect the city from uprisings, such as in 1497 when the army of Perkin Warbeck attacked or in the Prayer Book Rebellion of 1549.

Defence and Warfare Civil War

With the new methods of warfare used in the Civil War between Charles I and Parliament (1642-47) the whole system of defences needed revision and modernization. The city wall was repaired, gun batteries were set up and ditches deepened; after the conflict Exeter was left badly damaged, especially the suburbs which needed extensive re-building work.

Defence and Warfare Golden Age

After the Civil War, a period of peace and prosperity followed. The city's defences began to fall into decay.

Defence and Warfare Georgian City

By Georgian times the gates were seen as barriers to a modernized city, and they were swept away between the 1760s and 1819. In its new role as a county town, Late Georgian Exeter developed strong links with the navy; fully 10 per cent of all navy officers of that period came from Devon families, and many chose to retire in Exeter after active service.

Defence and Warfare Victorian City

In the Victorian period the city walls were considered picturesque rather than functional. Antiquaries and historians started to study them as archaeological monuments.

Defence and Warfare Modern City

In May 1942 bombing raids left many historic buildings and homes destroyed. Over the next few decades much of the city was hastily rebuilt, leaving modern Exeter with its distinctive mix of new and historic buildings.

Aerial view of Exeter and Topsham
Reconstruction view of the fortress
The defensive ditches under excavation in Paul Street
Reconstruction of the defences
Model of a barrack block within the Exeter fortress c AD 55–75
Legionary Armour
An iron dagger frame
Modern reconstructions of a dagger scabbard and dagger
An enamelled strap–end
Horse equipment
Plan of barracks in Goldsmith Street
A spear–head
Part of the legion as it might have appeared on parade
A legionary of the period of the fortress dressed in armour
The timber corduroy underlying the rampart
Barracks of legionary fortresses
Legionary building trench
Excavation of a barrack
The soldiers’ rooms
Archaeologists lying in soldiers’ barracks at Bartholomew Street
Restored plan of the fortress
Anglo–Saxon masonry at Rougemont
Court summons
The City Wall
The City Wall at Quay Lane
The rear of the wall
Reconstruction of the Roman South Gate
Reconstruction of the Roman town wall at Paul Street
Plan of Norman Exeter
A detail of Hogenburg’s map
An aerial photograph of Rougemont Castle in 1989
Rougemont Castle Gatehouse
The flat–headed arches in the gatehouse
Drawing of Rougemont Castle gatehouse
Rougemont Castle earthworks
Aerial view of the excavation at Danes Castle
Archaeologists removing the last fills of the Danes Castle ditch
Artist’s impression of Danes Castle
The South Gate of Exeter
Thomas Rowlandson’s view of the South Gate of Exeter
South Gate: the Farington engraving
The North Gate
The interior of Broadgate
The City Wall by John White Abbott
Fragment of a knight’s tomb, Greyfriar’s church
Boer War ration tin
Cord from a parachute mine
Hayman’s engraving of the interior of Eastgate
The museum model of Eastgate
Side view of the East Gate model
The Watergate
The Admiral Duckworth medal (reverse)
Plans of the defences outside East Gate
Reconstruction of the defences at East Gate
Aerial view of excavations outside South Gate
Excavation of a trench through the outer ditch of the Civil War defences
Plans showing defences outside South Gate
Hayes Barton
Musket shot from Hayes Barton
The Armour from Exeter Castle
Two cabassets
A lobster–tailed helmet
A breastplate with attached tassets
A tract recording the negotiations leading to the surrender of Exeter
A tract recording the terms of surrender of Exeter
The financial diary of John Hayne
A hand–grenade
Heavitree police truncheons
The Admiral Duckworth medal (obverse)
Exeter Cathedral and the Close in 1943
Bedford Circus after the Blitz
Kitchener’s army
An Anderson shelter
Civil Defence arm band
Fire Guard appointment card
Fire Guard appointment card
Fire Guard arm band
The Underground post
Location plan of the Exeter fortress and annexes, and Valiant Soldier cemetery site
Excavation of the legionary defences
Excavation of the legionary defences at Rack Street
Plan of the military compound at Holloway Street
Plan of the Roman military defences at Topsham
Excavation in progress at the Roman fort at Topsham
Travel warrant
A fortress street
Plan of the Norman city
View of the Rougemont castle gatehouse
A detail of the doorway arch of the gatehouse
Long–and–short quoins in the castle gatehouse
Plan of the City Defences
Reconstruction of Higher Barracks
Reconstruction of the main block of Higher Barracks
Items from a Belgian battlefield
Poster for Commemoration of Peace
Deller’s cafe mug
Captain Bell’s service medals
Captain Bell’s medal
Message from an Australian soldier
Message from a soldier