Exeter

Exeter is an ancient city located within the county of Devon England with a population of around 129,800 according to mid-2016 est. It is a cathedral city situated on the Exe River about 70 miles southwest of Bristol and 37 miles northeast of Plymouth. The status of the non-metropolitan district has been granted to the city under the rule of the County Council, while unitary authority status was abandoned under the command of coalition government 2010. The city was the most Roman fortified establishment of the southwestern Britain. The early history of the city dates back to the Roman era, although the remains of the Cornish tribe also survived in the city before the Roman Empire.

During the Medieval and Tudor period, the city became a major religious centre, and Exeter cathedral was also found in the middle of the 11^th century. Post 16^th century Protestant Reformation, the city followed Western Christian tradition and became Anglican. The city was affected by the First World War, although during Second World Was the city centre had undergone significant changes and must of the area was rebuilt. The city became a powerful wool trade centre by the end of the 19^th century and now considered as an important centre for tourism and modern business. It has been suggested that the modern name of the city is derived from the anglicised form of the well-known river Exe. 

History

There is no major prehistoric evidence found in the city. The early settlement of the area was established on a dry ridge ending in a spur, and some coins were also discovered during the Mediterranean history. The 42-acre fort named Isca was built by the Romans in AD 55 and served as a base for the legion of the Imperial Roman army that founded during the late Roman republic. The city was commonly known as Isca Dumnoniorum in the Roman era. The fort accommodated the unplanned civilian community of the Celtic Britons and the families of the soldiers. The fortress was demolished, and the site was used for the civilian purposes. Excavation of the area was done in 1970, but due to its closeness with the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter, the site could not be opened for public view.

The Saxons named the city as Escanceaster, they arrived the city after beating the Dumnonians in Somerset and maintained the quarter of the city for Britons, known as Britayne Street till mid of the 16^th century. The county corporate status was granted to the city in 1537. During the industrial era, the economy of the city was based on the agricultural products which were locally available. Its geographical location on the fast flowing river contributed towards the development of the early industrial site on drained marshland of the city. The Bristol and Exeter Railway has first arrived in the city in 1844, and the horse-drawn trams were introduced in 1882.

During the 20^th century, a new bridge was built made of steel and cast iron and changed the old Georgian bridge. In early 1905, the horse drawn trams were replaced by the electric trams. Later on, with the rise in the traffic problems caused by the trams, these were further replaced by the double-decker buses in 1931. The city was the prime target by the German Luftwaffe during the Second World War resulted in the death of 156 people and demolition of many historic buildings including the Cathedral. After that, little efforts were executed to restore the heritage of the city, and the large areas of the city centre were rebuilt in 1950. The city was severally affected by the serious fireworks, leading to the destruction of the Royal Clarence Hotel and 18 Cathedral Yard.