Conway Castle & Town, North Wales

Conway Castle is one of Edward I’s castles built in 1283 as a series of defences along the north coast of Wales.  The town and castle were part of Edward I’s defensive building program in Wales.  Completed in just 4 years, a remarkable achievement even for a king.

The choice of location is important, this is a strategic point in the crossing of the river Conwy and routes inland.

The town of Conway was established by Edward I, its first charter dates from 1284.  Conway was intentionally laid out in a simple form.  The castle was located at the defensive point by the river and the walls surrounding the town to protect the castle and garrison.  The land around the castle was divided into a grid with four major streets and several minor ones.  The blocks were then further divided into plots for housing; much in the same way we plan towns today.

Aberconwy house is through to be the oldest merchant’s house in wales dating in part to the 14th century.           

Plas Mawr house was built in the 16th century. Its name meaning ‘Great Hall’ The earliest plaster work dates from 1577.