Isca Dumnoniorum again around 680 with a document that reporting that St Boniface was educated at the abbey in Exeter. Much of the Roman wall survives as the lower courses or inner core of the medieval city walls, 70% of which still exist, largely built on the orders of Alfred the Great to protect the far west of his kingdom following the Viking occupation of 876. The legionary bath complex was excavated in the 1970s, but because of its proximity to the cathedral it was not practicable to retain the excavation for public view. Artifacts from the excavation, however, are displayed with
Princesshay High Street between Paris Street and the Cathedral precinct, lying north of Southernhay. It replaced the pre-war area known as Bedford Circus (which included the Eastgate Arcade) that was levelled by the City Council following damage in the Blitz. Before building commenced, a plaque was unveiled at the site on 21 October 1949 by Princess Elizabeth after whom the development was named. After demolition of the precinct started in 2005, archaeological work was undertaken owing to its potential interest, being close to the centre of the ancient Roman town of Isca Dumnoniorum and being continuously inhabited since that time. Among