InfoBritain

 

Exeter City Walls And Rougemont Castle, Devon

Rougemont Castle Gatehouse

The Romans established Exeter around 55AD. Their aim was to fortify the lowest crossing point of the river Exe, and create a strong point on their western frontier in Devon. The Roman walls stood for four hundred years, but once the Romans withdrew early in the fifth century, Exeter was abandoned. The incoming Saxon invaders were not urban people and all cities in Britain fell into decay. It wasn't until around 920AD that it is thought King Athelstan repaired Exeter's walls. One hundred and forty years later these defenses were to stand for eighteen days against William the Conqueror after the Norman invasion in 1066. Once they had taken Exeter the Normans strengthened the walls, and built a castle in the north west corner, called Rougemont. Exeter then became involved in internal Norman squabbles. The twelfth century king King Stephen faced rebellion led by powerful Norman nobles. One of these rebellious nobles, Baldwin de Redvers, took refuge behind Exeter's walls, until Stephen starved him out.

Even though Exeter has spread far beyond its original limits, the walls continue to be maintained and valued. As usual with structures of this sort symbolic power has outlasted physical power. From the earliest days of castles symbolic power has coexisted with the reality of physical defence. Neolithic shrines seeking spiritual security consisted of circular ditches and banks, and so did early castles. Later in history these parallels continued. Ceremony and ritual focused itself on Exeter's walls. The gates were a particular focus for ceremonies, and in times of celebration they would be decked out in brightly coloured cloth. At one point I walked up onto the wall, and crossed a footbridge, while traffic roared through a gap beneath. It might seem that the walls have no role to play now, but this would be wrong. The city preserves the walls for the same reason Athelstan did. The walls give the city a sense of itself, and in a symbolic way enhance its identity and security.

 

Exeter's city walls are now the equivalent of geological strata. The bottom is Roman, the next layer up is Saxon, then Norman, then medieval, with modern repairs on top. A walk has been laid out around the walls, with information signs at intervals. The castle was home for many years to Exeter's county court, and has been redeveloped as a residential and events centre for weddings, parties, conferences and concerts. The Castle Courtyard is open every weekday for casual visiting.

 

Address: Exeter Castle, Castle Street, Exeter EX4 3PU

Directions: Exeter can be reached via the M5 motorway. Click here for an interactive map centred on Exeter Cathedral.

Opening Times: Castle Courtyard is open 7am - 7pm Monday to Friday.

Contact:

http://www.exetercastle.co.uk/

e-mail: enquiry@exetercastle.co.uk

telephone: 07968 797135

Access: There are some steep slopes on the path around the castle walls. The walls can be viewed from level areas in Rougemont Gardens and Northernhay Gardens.