© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Historic England (NHLE)
Exeter City Walls is a fortified circuit of defensive masonry constructed across multiple periods from the Roman era through the medieval period. The walls were first built by Roman forces in the late first century AD as part of the fortress of Isca Dumnoniorum, and substantial sections of this Roman work survive, notably on the eastern side of the circuit. Following the Roman withdrawal, Anglo-Saxon defences were erected, and the walls were substantially rebuilt and reinforced during the medieval period, particularly in the 11th and 12th centuries, with further maintenance and modification continuing thereafter. The surviving fabric represents one of the most complete examples of a multi-period defensive circuit in England, preserving evidence of Roman, Anglo-Saxon and medieval military engineering within the same structural sequence.
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 fortified circuit of defensive masonry constructed across multiple periods from the Roman era through 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 Britain — 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