Medieval City [1200 - 1500]
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After the vigorous growth of the 10th and 11th centuries, Exeter experienced a prolonged period of more modest success in the later middle ages. Nevertheless it functioned as a regional centre for much of Devon and Somerset, with its markets and fairs, town crafts and foreign trade.
Exeter was also an important centre of the church, with its cathedral, monasteries, friaries, and hospitals, in addition to its thirty parish churches.
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After tremendous growth between 1000 and 1200, Exeter experienced a long period of more modest success in the later middle ages. It remained a regional centre for much of Devon and Somerset, with its markets and fairs, town crafts and foreign trade. It was also an important centre of the church, with its cathedral, monasteries, friaries, and hospitals, in addition to its thirty parish churches. By the late 14th century as much as a third of the city's population lived outside the walls - especially the poor.
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One of the oldest examples of a silver seal surviving from any of the towns and cities of England comes from Exeter. It dates to about 1170 - 1200 and shows an elaborate building between towers. These are symbols of wealth and security, rather than depictions of any specific building. The seal was kept at the Guildhall.
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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.
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Exeter's parish churches flourished in the Medieval period. The Cathedral also went through elaborate building programmes, such as that led by Bishop Grandisson in the 1340s. An image screen was added to the West end which including the figures of kings and knights. The work was brought to a halt by the Black Death.
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The medieval city of Exeter developed as a regional centre for manufacture. The highly skilled work of wood and stone craftsmen can be seen in the Cathedral and many churches in Devon. Everyday items also continued to be made in the city, including pottery, wooden and metal items. The city was well-known for the production and trade in woollen cloth, yet none of this cloth is known to survive today.
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The medieval city was filled with a range of houses. Many examples of these survive in the city today including grand clergy houses, rows of lodgings for minor clergy, modest town houses and a substantial merchant's house. Many everyday household items have been found during excavations in the city, including pottery, wooden bowls and tools, and glass.
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Like all medieval towns Exeter contained several hospitals but treatments were usually more spiritual than medical. Analysis of skeletons from the city shows that more than half the population died before reaching adult age. Perhaps the greatest achievement in healthcare was the creation of a dedicated water supply to the Cathedral, and later the city, via a network of underground passages.
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During this time foreign trade centred on two main areas, northern France, especially Brittany and Normandy, and western France, especially the ports of Bordeaux and La Rochelle. Other long-lived trades were with Spain, Portugal, Italy and Ireland. Many household items were acquired more locally from the region and other parts of Britain.
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From the medieval city survive fragments of leather clothing and items of personal dress.
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Evidence for children in the medieval city is rare, as most of their belongings and toys were perishable or fragile. Evidence of children's education from this time may include some drawings on slate found in a rubbish pit in the city.
