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Exeter City Walls is a complex defensive structure that evolved across multiple periods, beginning with Roman fortifications established in the first century AD and substantially rebuilt and extended during the medieval period. The walls incorporate Roman stonework in their lower courses, particularly visible on the east side, alongside significant medieval additions and reconstructions dating from the twelfth century onwards. The circuit originally enclosed the Roman fortress and later the Anglo-Saxon and medieval town, standing amongst the most complete urban defensive systems surviving in England. The walls remain largely upstanding today, forming a substantial testimony to Exeter's strategic importance as a defended settlement from the Roman occupation through the medieval period.
Roman, Anglo Saxon and medieval defences called collectively Exeter City Walls is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1003858. View the official record →
Exeter City Walls is a complex defensive structure that evolved across multiple periods, beginning with Roman fortifications established in the first century AD and substantially rebuilt and extended during the medieval period. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England (NHLE) under reference 1003858.
Roman, Anglo Saxon and medieval defences called collectively Exeter City Walls is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic England (NHLE) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in England. The official designation reference is 1003858.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including St Loye's Chapel and cross, Rifford Road (2.4 km), Little John's Cross (2.5 km), Ide Bridge (2.9 km).
Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any address in the UK — drawing on scheduled monument data, Domesday records, Roman heritage, PAS finds and medieval history to reveal the complete story of a landscape.
Research the area around Roman, Anglo Saxon and medieval defences called collectively Exeter City Walls