Exeter is one of the oldest cities in England, with a history shaped by Roman rule, religion, trade, and regional power. Founded by the Romans as Isca Dumnoniorum around AD 50, Exeter became an important military and administrative centre in the south-west. After the Romans left, the city remained significant as a Saxon stronghold and later as a Norman city protected by walls and a powerful castle.
In the Middle Ages, Exeter developed into a centre of religion and learning, dominated by Exeter Cathedral, which remains one of the city’s most important landmarks. The city also benefited from trade through the River Exe, connecting it to wider national and international markets. During periods of conflict, including the English Civil War, Exeter played a strategic role in the region.
Today, Exeter’s Roman walls, medieval buildings, and historic streets reveal a city shaped by nearly two thousand years of continuous settlement and
