Norman Town [1068 - 1200]
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Writing in the mid 12th century, the author of The Deeds of Stephen described Exeter thus:
Exeter is a large town, with very ancient walls built by the Roman emperors, the fourth place, they say, in England, abundantly supplied with fish from the sea, and meat as well, and with a flourishing shipping trade. There is a castle in it raised on a very high mound surrounded by an impregnable wall and fortified with towers of hewn limestone constructed by the emperors. -
This quote by the author of The Deeds of Stephen comes from the mid 12th century. It describes Exeter as:
A large town, with very ancient walls built by the Roman emperors, the fourth place, they say, in England, abundantly supplied with fish from the sea, and meat as well, and with a flourishing shipping trade. There is a castle in it raised on a very high mound surrounded by an impregnable wall and fortified with towers of hewn limestone constructed by the emperors. -
The Guildhall has occupied its current site in Exeter since about 1160, but archaeologists have no idea of its original form.
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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.
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Following the Norman Conquest a massive church-building campaign was begun in England. In 1114, Bishop William Warelwast, nephew of the Conqueror, began an imposing new Norman cathedral. Although much of this was subsequently remodelled the two towers on each side of the transepts are the principal surviving monument of the Norman church in Devon.
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A range of crafts and industries thrived in the Norman town, including textiles, leather, bone and metal working. The ambitious Norman programme of building new churches and castles must have greatly developed the local building industry. By the late 12th century local craftsmen were creating some very high skilled pieces of architectural stonework.
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Evidence for housing at this time is biased towards the wealthier residences in the town. Elaborately carved architectural fragments have been discovered, made from stone brought from northern France. This suggests some grand town houses had been built by the Norman period. One of these, the Bishop's Palace, still remains today and is the earliest standing house in Devon or Cornwall. More evidence survives of the items used by the majority of Exeter's residents, including pottery made locally and imported from France.
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For many of Exeter's residents sanitary conditions in the Norman town had not improved. Some progress had been made in the religious houses like St Nicholas Priory.
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Foreign trade remained important at this time. The archaeological evidence suggests there was much trade with France, with the import of different types of pottery.
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Very little evidence survives of dress and display from the Norman town.
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Evidence for children in the Norman Roman town is rare, as most of their belongings and toys were perishable or fragile. A small group of bone whistles which were made in the city may have been used by children.
