Rougemont Castle

Rougemont Castle stands on a volcanic outcrop in the northern corner of Exeter’s old Roman walls. Built in 1068 after Exeter’s rebellion against William the Conqueror, it was designed to secure Norman control over the city. The original enclosure measured about 600 feet on each side, with a deep ditch and rampart cutting off the northern angle of the Roman defences. A large stone gatehouse, still standing today, shows early Anglo-Saxon masons’ work with its long-and-short quoins and double triangular windows. Two corner turrets were added quickly, one still called Athelstan’s Tower despite later evidence. The castle’s red stone walls gave it the name Rougemont, meaning ‘red hill’. The castle played a part in several key events in English history. In 1136 it withstood a three-month siege by King Stephen, whose forces finally broke in when the water supply failed. The three Devon witches were tried here in 1682 before their execution, and a plaque now marks the spot. Shakespeare mentions the castle in *Richard III*, recalling Richard’s mistaken vision of death when he saw Rougemont. The last major repairs to the defences were recorded in 1352, though by 1600 the structure was already described as decayed. Visitors today find the great Norman gatehouse and fragments of the curtain wall still standing inside the castle grounds. To the north lie Rougemont Gardens and Northernhay Gardens, public parks with mature trees and paths. The gatehouse entrance leads into a courtyard where the old courthouse once stood, now replaced by modern buildings. A small earthwork called Danes’ Castle sits on the hill north of the castle, once thought to be part of Rougemont’s defences. The site blends history with open green space, offering quiet views over the city’s ancient walls.