History of Exeter

Exeter is the county town of Devon, situated in southwest England. It takes its name from the River Exe, on which the earliest city was founded under the patronage of the Roman Empire at around 50 AD. The city's 2,000-year-old history spans many empires and the city itself features a wide spectrum of architectural styles and influences. After the bombings of WWII, when much of the city's original architecture was destroyed, the city lost some of its lustre as a heritage site, though significant rebuilding has allowed a fresh glimpse into the region's past.

Roman rule

The actual city of Exeter began as a Roman fort in the middle of the 1st century AD. Very little resistance was encountered from local Celtic tribes, and once the area was in Roman hands, construction of the city's basilica and forum began. A wall was erected during the 2nd century, and remained for many centuries thereafter. Upon the decline of the Roman Empire, the local populations of Exeter declined as well.

Saxon presence

In 407 AD, Roman soldiers had left Britain; and people drifted out of the town into the countryside. The Saxons invaded England later in the same century and reached Devon in the 7th century, thereafter building a monastery inside the walls of the city.

Further invasion by the Danes began during the 9th century and continued for some time. They captured Exeter in 876 AD and weathered the winter behind the city walls. After the Danes moved on, Alfred the Great rehabilitated Exeter along with a network of other cities as a defensive measure against future invasions. Prosperity followed until 1003, when Danish forces sacked the city once again.

Middle Ages

Further conflict occasionally sprang up in Exeter through the centuries. The city surrendered to the Normans in the 11th century and a series of improvements were made to the infrastructure. As the city's population grew, Exeter became known as a centre for wool production. Many of the initial advancements of the Industrial Revolution did not include Exeter, so for a time, the city became associated with outdated infrastructure.

Modern times

Exeter's importance as an industrial centre declined over the years as the population increased. In 1942, the Germans bombed Exeter, destroying a good portion of the city centres original architecture. Rebuilding began in the 1950s, and today, a significant portion of the population is employed by tourism and other industries of service.