Roman Fortress

The Location

Exeter was founded by the Roman army. Around AD 50-55 the site now occupied by the centre of the city, hitherto simply open farmland, was chosen for a new legionary fortress - the winter headquarters of the Second Augustan legion during its conquest of South-West England. The legion must have been attracted to the site by its commanding position over the lowest crossing place over the river Exe, defended on two sides by steep valleys. Its name Isca was adopted from the ancient Celtic name for the Exe; it simply means water or river. The modern name Exeter developed from this.

The Fortress

The new fortress was of typical 'playing card' shape - a rectangle with rounded corners - covering an area of 42 acres whose centre was close to the modern crossing of High Street and Fore Street, South Street and North Street. It was defended by a circuit of an earth and timber rampart fronted by a deep ditch, with gates and towers at regular intervals. Within was a grid of streets and densely packed timber buildings which accommodated the 6000 or so soldiers who formed the legion. The fortress provided not only accommodation - long barracks for each century of soldiers, with separate houses for the senior officers - but like a self-contained town catered for all the needs of an army at war: granaries for the corn supply, a hospital for the wounded, a workshop where weapons and armour could be made and repaired, and a bath-house for the soldiers' leisure. Around the edges of the fortress were the barracks in which they were housed; at its centre were more vulnerable buildings, such as the hospital, workshops, granaries and the headquarters building.

Only a small part of the fortress has been excavated by the city's archaeologists, but sufficient information has been recovered to offer a reconstruction of its layout. Portions of barracks have been recovered on several sites, with parts of granaries, the workshops and other structures.

  • Aerial view of Exeter and Topsham image

    Aerial view of Exeter and Topsham

  • Reconstruction view of the fortress image

    Reconstruction view of the fortress

  • The defensive ditches under excavation in Paul Street image

    The defensive ditches under excavation in Paul Street

  • Reconstruction of the defences image

    Reconstruction of the defences

  • View of the bath–house caldarium image

    View of the bath–house caldarium

  • View of the Roman bath–house image

    View of the Roman bath–house

  • View of the hypocaust system in the bath–house image

    View of the hypocaust system in the bath–house

  • Wire–frame model of the bath–house superimposed over a photograph of the excavation image

    Wire–frame model of the bath–house superimposed over a photograph of the excavation

  • The museum model of the bath–house image

    The museum model of the bath–house

  • Fragment of mosaic image

    Fragment of mosaic

  • Fragments of antefixes image

    Fragments of antefixes

  • Fragments of window glass image

    Fragments of window glass

  • Fragment of a basin from the bath–house image

    Fragment of a basin from the bath–house

  • Excavation of barracks in Bartholomew Street, Exeter image

    Excavation of barracks in Bartholomew Street, Exeter

  • Model of a barrack block within the Exeter fortress c AD 55–75 image

    Model of a barrack block within the Exeter fortress c AD 55–75

  • Legionary Armour image

    Legionary Armour

  • An iron dagger frame image

    An iron dagger frame

  • Modern reconstructions of a dagger scabbard and dagger image

    Modern reconstructions of a dagger scabbard and dagger

  • An enamelled strap–end image

    An enamelled strap–end

  • Horse equipment image

    Horse equipment

  • Brooches from legionary deposits image

    Brooches from legionary deposits

  • A series of plain samian pottery vessels image

    A series of plain samian pottery vessels

  • Decorated samian image

    Decorated samian

  • An aureus of Vespasian (reverse) image

    An aureus of Vespasian (reverse)

  • Hoard of coins from the Valiant Soldier Inn site, Holloway Street image

    Hoard of coins from the Valiant Soldier Inn site, Holloway Street

  • Sculpture of a bird image

    Sculpture of a bird

  • The Topsham chariot race cup fragments image

    The Topsham chariot race cup fragments

  • Samian ware pottery from Topsham image

    Samian ware pottery from Topsham

  • A model of a mouse image

    A model of a mouse

  • Sherd of a samian cup with engraving image

    Sherd of a samian cup with engraving

  • Marble portrait head image

    Marble portrait head

  • A soldier’s ring from Pennsylvania image

    A soldier’s ring from Pennsylvania

  • Lyon ware cup and lamps image

    Lyon ware cup and lamps

  • A pair of saucepans image

    A pair of saucepans

  • Plan of barracks in Goldsmith Street image

    Plan of barracks in Goldsmith Street

  • A Lyon ware cup image

    A Lyon ware cup

  • Spanish Pottery image

    Spanish Pottery

  • Neck of an amphora image

    Neck of an amphora

  • Handle of a saucepan image

    Handle of a saucepan

  • A panther from Holloway Street image

    A panther from Holloway Street

  • A lamp from Holloway Street image

    A lamp from Holloway Street

  • A Figurine of Victory from Holloway Street image

    A Figurine of Victory from Holloway Street

  • A spear–head image

    A spear–head

  • Two glass vessels image

    Two glass vessels

  • A group of black–burnished ware image

    A group of black–burnished ware

  • The upper half of an amphora image

    The upper half of an amphora

  • Amphora handles with impressed stamps image

    Amphora handles with impressed stamps

  • Fortress wares image

    Fortress wares

  • How to tell wheel–thrown from hand–made wares image

    How to tell wheel–thrown from hand–made wares

  • How to tell wheel–thrown from hand–made wares image

    How to tell wheel–thrown from hand–made wares

  • Part of the legion as it might have appeared on parade image

    Part of the legion as it might have appeared on parade

  • A legionary of the period of the fortress dressed in armour image

    A legionary of the period of the fortress dressed in armour

  • A complete Roman amphora image

    A complete Roman amphora

  • The timber corduroy underlying the rampart image

    The timber corduroy underlying the rampart

  • Barracks of legionary fortresses image

    Barracks of legionary fortresses

  • Legionary building trench image

    Legionary building trench

  • Excavation of a barrack image

    Excavation of a barrack

  • The soldiers’ rooms image

    The soldiers’ rooms

  • Archaeologists lying in soldiers’ barracks at Bartholomew Street image

    Archaeologists lying in soldiers’ barracks at Bartholomew Street

  • Antefixes on a roof image

    Antefixes on a roof

  • View of the fabrica under excavation image

    View of the fabrica under excavation

  • A fortress street image

    A fortress street

  • A samian bowl from Topsham image

    A samian bowl from Topsham

  • View of the front room of the fabrica image

    View of the front room of the fabrica

  • Restored plan of the baths image

    Restored plan of the baths

  • Restored plan of the fortress image

    Restored plan of the fortress

  • Rim of a mortarium (mixing bowl) image

    Rim of a mortarium (mixing bowl)

  • Fragments of mosaic image

    Fragments of mosaic

  • An aureus of Vespasian (obverse) image

    An aureus of Vespasian (obverse)

  • A Roman lamp from Lion’s Holt image

    A Roman lamp from Lion’s Holt

  • Coin of Nero found in Alphington Road (obverse) image

    Coin of Nero found in Alphington Road (obverse)

  • An early Roman coin from Topsham Road (obverse) image

    An early Roman coin from Topsham Road (obverse)

  • Coin of Julius Caesar found at Hamlin Lane allotments image

    Coin of Julius Caesar found at Hamlin Lane allotments

  • A coin of Nero (obverse) image

    A coin of Nero (obverse)

  • Location plan of the Exeter fortress and annexes, and Valiant Soldier cemetery site image

    Location plan of the Exeter fortress and annexes, and Valiant Soldier cemetery site

  • Excavation of the legionary defences image

    Excavation of the legionary defences

  • Excavation of the legionary defences at Rack Street image

    Excavation of the legionary defences at Rack Street

  • Plan of the military compound at Holloway Street image

    Plan of the military compound at Holloway Street

  • Plan of the Roman military defences at Topsham image

    Plan of the Roman military defences at Topsham

  • Excavation in progress at the Roman fort at Topsham image

    Excavation in progress at the Roman fort at Topsham

  • A soldier’s burial goods, from Holloway Street image

    A soldier’s burial goods, from Holloway Street

  • A soldier’s burial goods from Holloway Street image

    A soldier’s burial goods from Holloway Street

  • A soldier’s burial goods from Holloway Street image

    A soldier’s burial goods from Holloway Street

  • A blue glass jar from a soldier’s burial image

    A blue glass jar from a soldier’s burial

  • A blue glass jar from a soldier’s burial image

    A blue glass jar from a soldier’s burial

  • A Spanish beaker from Topsham image

    A Spanish beaker from Topsham

  • Wheel–thrown grey wares image

    Wheel–thrown grey wares

  • The earliest evidence of literacy in Devon image

    The earliest evidence of literacy in Devon

  • A coin of Nero (reverse) image

    A coin of Nero (reverse)

  • Coin of Nero found in Alphington Road (reverse) image

    Coin of Nero found in Alphington Road (reverse)

  • An early Roman coin from Topsham Road (reverse) image

    An early Roman coin from Topsham Road (reverse)

  • Line drawing of the Topsham chariot race cup image

    Line drawing of the Topsham chariot race cup

  • Sword (gladius) image

    Sword (gladius)

  • Belt (cingulum) and dagger (pugio) image

    Belt (cingulum) and dagger (pugio)

  • Shield (scutum) image

    Shield (scutum)

  • Spear (pilum) image

    Spear (pilum)

  • Helmet (galea) image

    Helmet (galea)

  • Body armour (lorica segmentata) image

    Body armour (lorica segmentata)

  • Neckpiece image

    Neckpiece

  • Sandals (caligae) image

    Sandals (caligae)

  • A carrot amphora image

    A carrot amphora

  • A bowl used in the Roman fortress image

    A bowl used in the Roman fortress

  • Fragment of mosaic from the bath–house image

    Fragment of mosaic from the bath–house

  • Antefixes from the bath–house image

    Antefixes from the bath–house

  • Mortarium (mixing bowl) image

    Mortarium (mixing bowl)

  • Tiles from the hypocaust image

    Tiles from the hypocaust

  • Blue glass tessera image

    Blue glass tessera

  • An imported plate image

    An imported plate

  • Stone fitting from the bath–house image

    Stone fitting from the bath–house

  • Concrete from the bath–house image

    Concrete from the bath–house

  • Stone floor tiles image

    Stone floor tiles

  • Fragment of a shale bracelet image

    Fragment of a shale bracelet

  • Fragment of multi–coloured glass image

    Fragment of multi–coloured glass

  • Fragment of multi–coloured glass image

    Fragment of multi–coloured glass

  • Fragments of Roman glass image

    Fragments of Roman glass