The Form & Growth of the City

Exeter suffered terrible damage in the Civil War between Charles I and Parliament of 1642-6. Within the city loyalties were divided. The Roundhead (pro-Parliament) faction triumphed at first and Exeter defended itself in 1642-3 for Parliament against the Royalist forces of the west. The city wall was repaired, gun batteries were set up and ditches deepened. Nevertheless the Royalist armies eventually captured the city in 1643 and held it until early 1646. By that time the defences had been made even stronger, but a triumphant Parliamentary force led by Sir Thomas Fairfax recaptured the city.

The city was left very badly damaged, especially the suburbs, which had been laid waste. Building began there rapidly in the 1650s; by the time of the Restoration of Charles II in 1660 recovery was well advanced.