Snayle Tower

The north west corner of the city wall at Bartholomew Terrace, stands high above the narrow Exe Valley and overlooks the double weirs of Blackaller and Head Weir. At this corner of the wall, still known as Snayle Tower despite the absence of such a feature, there once stood one of the largest and most important defensive towers. The first reference to a tower dates from 1348, while Hogenberg's map of 1618 shows a crennellated round tower that would have served as much as a lookout than as a defensive stucture. It would have been difficult to attack, standing atop a steeply sloping bank. It was purely a defensive tower and it was never rented out as a dwelling or store.

It is not known why it was named the Snayle Tower, although its circular shape may have suggested a snail like shape or colour. The tower was demolished sometime between 1806 and 1813, after the City Chamber became concerned that children could fall from the tower, and nothing remains of its structure.

Source: Exeter's City Wall by Mark Stoyle.