Europe · United Kingdom · Wales
Conwy Castle
The story
History of Conwy Castle
One of Edward I's iron ring of Welsh fortresses, built in seven breakneck years with a walled town enclosed alongside it.
United Kingdom · Wales · Edwardian
- Built
- 1283–1287
- Era
- Medieval
- Style
- Edwardian
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- Wales
- UNESCO
- World Heritage Site
- Coordinates
- 53.280, -3.826
In depth
The fuller history
Before the English built the town of Conwy, Aberconwy Abbey, the site was occupied by a Cistercian monastery favoured by the Welsh princes, as well as the location of one of the palaces (called llys) of the Welsh princes. From Conwy: "the oldest structure is part of the town walls, at the southern end of the east side. Here one wall and the tower of a llys [palace/court house] belonging to Llywelyn the Great and his grandson Llywelyn ap Gruffydd have been incorporated into the wall.
Edward invaded with a huge army, pushing north from Carmarthen and westwards from Montgomery and Chester. Edward captured Aberconwy in March 1283 and decided that the location would form the centre of a new county: he would relocate the abbey eight miles up the Conwy valley to a new site at Maenan, establishing Maenan Abbey, and build a new English castle and walled town on the monastery's former site. The ruined castle of Deganwy was abandoned and never rebuilt.
Key dates
- 897In the 21st century the castle is managed by Cadw as a tourist attraction and 186,897 tourists visited the castle in 2010; a new visitor centre was opened in 2012.
- 1284In the second phase, from 1284 and 1286, the interior buildings were erected, while work began on the walls for the neighbouring town.
- 1627Charles I sold it to Edward Conway in 1627 for £100, and Edward's son, also called Edward, inherited the ruin in 1631.
- 1646The Archbishop defected to Parliament, the town of Conwy fell in August 1646 and in November General Thomas Mytton finally took the castle itself after a substantial siege.
- 1665In the aftermath, the castle was partially slighted by Parliament to prevent it being used in any further revolt, and was finally completely ruined in 1665 when its remaining iron and lead was stripped and sold off.
- 1958An additional road bridge was built to the castle in 1958.
Historical summary drawn from Wikipedia. Read the full article.
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