Conwy Castle
Encyclopedia
Conwy Castle is a castle in Conwy
, on the north coast of Wales
.
It was built between 1283 and 1289 during King Edward I's
second campaign in North Wales.
Conwy replaced Deganwy Castle
, an earlier stronghold built by Henry III
that had been destroyed by Llywelyn the Last
in 1263.
using 1,500 labourers and stonecutters. An estimated £15,000 (£ as of ), was spent building the castle and the town's defences
, the largest single sum Edward I spent on any of his Welsh castles between 1277 and 1304.
The defences are in a linear arrangement
because, like Caernarfon Castle
, it was built on a rock promontory. This was to prevent undermining and also guard the entrance to the River Conwy
. The promontory, which is about 15 metres (49.2 ft) high, was originally surrounded by the river on two sides. With the advent of the North Wales Coast railway
in the 19th century, land reclamation around the castle has isolated it from the river.
s.
Access to the castle was originally up a stepped ramp - of which, a small part remains - across a drawbridge
, through a gateway with portcullis
and into the barbican
. Entrants then turned left through the main gateway into the outer ward. This housed the main living quarters for the garrison and the prison tower.
The inner ward was separated from the rest of the castle by a 15 feet (4.6 m) thick wall with enfilading arrow slits. It also had a deep rock gully and an indirect gateway. In the event of attack, these measures would create a lethal bottleneck because the inner ward gateway was positioned at a right-hand turn to the wall. The extra defence was reflected in the inner ward's status. It contained Edward I
's heated Royal Apartments and the castle's Great Hall
. At the rear of the fortress, another barbican
guarded the postern entrance
from the River Conwy
.
In the 13th century, a watchtower was built on the site of Bodysgallen Hall
. Its purpose was to act as a lookout towards the north an area not easily watched from Conwy itself. Some of the stone used in construction of Conwy Castle has been linked to a quarry at Bodysgallen.
. The siege lasted for several months and supplies ran low. However the castle and town were not captured. In the 14th century alterations were carried out under Edward, the Black Prince
.
On 12 August 1399, after returning from Ireland
, the unpopular king Richard II
made his way to Conwy Castle where he met the Earl of Northumberland
for negotiations to give up his crown. A week later he surrendered to Henry Bolingbroke at Flint Castle
promising to abdicate if his life was spared. Richard II was briefly imprisoned in the Tower of London
, and then transferred to Pontefract Castle, where he died in February 1400.
In 1403 Welsh forces led by Rhys ap Tudur
and his brother Gwilym, sons of Tudur ap Gronw, and the cousins of Owain Glyndwr
, captured the castle and its English garrison. The fortress and the soldiers were later ransomed back to Henry IV
. Tudur ap Gronw was the forefather of Henry Tudor. During the War of the Roses Conwy was taken by William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke under orders from Edward IV
in 1461.
But by the early 17th century, the once great Royal Castle had become dilapidated and was largely unused. However at the outbreak of the English Civil War
Conwy was again garrisoned for the King
. It was captured after a three-month siege by the Parliamentary army in 1646. It was slighted and left as an empty shell.
Later the restored Charles II
granted Conwy Castle to Edward Conway, 3rd Viscount Conway
. In 1665 the remaining timber, iron and lead was removed from the castle by William Milward on behalf of the peer and sold.
and managed by Cadw
. It is also part of the World Heritage Site
entitled Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd
.
|-
|
Conwy Castle (Medieval Conway Castle; ) is a castle in Conwy
, on the north coast of Wales
.
It was built between 1283 and 1289 during King Edward I's
second campaign in North Wales.
Conwy replaced Deganwy Castle
, an earlier stronghold built by Henry III
that had been destroyed by Llywelyn the Last
in 1263.
using 1,500 labourers and stonecutters. An estimated £15,000 (£ as of ), was spent building the castle and the town's defences
, the largest single sum Edward I spent on any of his Welsh castles between 1277 and 1304.
The defences are in a linear arrangement
because, like Caernarfon Castle
, it was built on a rock promontory. This was to prevent undermining and also guard the entrance to the River Conwy
. The promontory, which is about 15 metres (49.2 ft) high, was originally surrounded by the river on two sides. With the advent of the North Wales Coast railway
in the 19th century, land reclamation around the castle has isolated it from the river.
s.
Access to the castle was originally up a stepped ramp - of which, a small part remains - across a drawbridge
, through a gateway with portcullis
and into the barbican
. Entrants then turned left through the main gateway into the outer ward. This housed the main living quarters for the garrison and the prison tower.
The inner ward was separated from the rest of the castle by a 15 feet (4.6 m) thick wall with enfilading arrow slits. It also had a deep rock gully and an indirect gateway. In the event of attack, these measures would create a lethal bottleneck because the inner ward gateway was positioned at a right-hand turn to the wall. The extra defence was reflected in the inner ward's status. It contained Edward I
's heated Royal Apartments and the castle's Great Hall
. At the rear of the fortress, another barbican
guarded the postern entrance
from the River Conwy
.
In the 13th century, a watchtower was built on the site of Bodysgallen Hall
. Its purpose was to act as a lookout towards the north an area not easily watched from Conwy itself. Some of the stone used in construction of Conwy Castle has been linked to a quarry at Bodysgallen.
. The siege lasted for several months and supplies ran low. However the castle and town were not captured. In the 14th century alterations were carried out under Edward, the Black Prince
.
On 12 August 1399, after returning from Ireland
, the unpopular king Richard II
made his way to Conwy Castle where he met the Earl of Northumberland
for negotiations to give up his crown. A week later he surrendered to Henry Bolingbroke at Flint Castle
promising to abdicate if his life was spared. Richard II was briefly imprisoned in the Tower of London
, and then transferred to Pontefract Castle, where he died in February 1400.
In 1403 Welsh forces led by Rhys ap Tudur
and his brother Gwilym, sons of Tudur ap Gronw, and the cousins of Owain Glyndwr
, captured the castle and its English garrison. The fortress and the soldiers were later ransomed back to Henry IV
. Tudur ap Gronw was the forefather of Henry Tudor. During the War of the Roses Conwy was taken by William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke under orders from Edward IV
in 1461.
But by the early 17th century, the once great Royal Castle had become dilapidated and was largely unused. However at the outbreak of the English Civil War
Conwy was again garrisoned for the King
. It was captured after a three-month siege by the Parliamentary army in 1646. It was slighted and left as an empty shell.
Later the restored Charles II
granted Conwy Castle to Edward Conway, 3rd Viscount Conway
. In 1665 the remaining timber, iron and lead was removed from the castle by William Milward on behalf of the peer and sold.
and managed by Cadw
. It is also part of the World Heritage Site
entitled Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd
.
|-
|
Conwy Castle (Medieval Conway Castle; ) is a castle in Conwy
, on the north coast of Wales
.
It was built between 1283 and 1289 during King Edward I's
second campaign in North Wales.
Conwy replaced Deganwy Castle
, an earlier stronghold built by Henry III
that had been destroyed by Llywelyn the Last
in 1263.
using 1,500 labourers and stonecutters. An estimated £15,000 (£ as of ), was spent building the castle and the town's defences
, the largest single sum Edward I spent on any of his Welsh castles between 1277 and 1304.
The defences are in a linear arrangement
because, like Caernarfon Castle
, it was built on a rock promontory. This was to prevent undermining and also guard the entrance to the River Conwy
. The promontory, which is about 15 metres (49.2 ft) high, was originally surrounded by the river on two sides. With the advent of the North Wales Coast railway
in the 19th century, land reclamation around the castle has isolated it from the river.
s.
Access to the castle was originally up a stepped ramp - of which, a small part remains - across a drawbridge
, through a gateway with portcullis
and into the barbican
. Entrants then turned left through the main gateway into the outer ward. This housed the main living quarters for the garrison and the prison tower.
The inner ward was separated from the rest of the castle by a 15 feet (4.6 m) thick wall with enfilading arrow slits. It also had a deep rock gully and an indirect gateway. In the event of attack, these measures would create a lethal bottleneck because the inner ward gateway was positioned at a right-hand turn to the wall. The extra defence was reflected in the inner ward's status. It contained Edward I
's heated Royal Apartments and the castle's Great Hall
. At the rear of the fortress, another barbican
guarded the postern entrance
from the River Conwy
.
In the 13th century, a watchtower was built on the site of Bodysgallen Hall
. Its purpose was to act as a lookout towards the north an area not easily watched from Conwy itself. Some of the stone used in construction of Conwy Castle has been linked to a quarry at Bodysgallen.
. The siege lasted for several months and supplies ran low. However the castle and town were not captured. In the 14th century alterations were carried out under Edward, the Black Prince
.
On 12 August 1399, after returning from Ireland
, the unpopular king Richard II
made his way to Conwy Castle where he met the Earl of Northumberland
for negotiations to give up his crown. A week later he surrendered to Henry Bolingbroke at Flint Castle
promising to abdicate if his life was spared. Richard II was briefly imprisoned in the Tower of London
, and then transferred to Pontefract Castle, where he died in February 1400.
In 1403 Welsh forces led by Rhys ap Tudur
and his brother Gwilym, sons of Tudur ap Gronw, and the cousins of Owain Glyndwr
, captured the castle and its English garrison. The fortress and the soldiers were later ransomed back to Henry IV
. Tudur ap Gronw was the forefather of Henry Tudor. During the War of the Roses Conwy was taken by William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke under orders from Edward IV
in 1461.
But by the early 17th century, the once great Royal Castle had become dilapidated and was largely unused. However at the outbreak of the English Civil War
Conwy was again garrisoned for the King
. It was captured after a three-month siege by the Parliamentary army in 1646. It was slighted and left as an empty shell.
Later the restored Charles II
granted Conwy Castle to Edward Conway, 3rd Viscount Conway
. In 1665 the remaining timber, iron and lead was removed from the castle by William Milward on behalf of the peer and sold.
and managed by Cadw
. It is also part of the World Heritage Site
entitled Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd
.
|-
|
|}
Conwy
Conwy is a walled market town and community in Conwy County Borough on the north coast of Wales. The town, which faces Deganwy across the River Conwy, formerly lay in Gwynedd and prior to that in Caernarfonshire. Conwy has a population of 14,208...
, on the north coast of Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
It was built between 1283 and 1289 during King Edward I's
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
second campaign in North Wales.
Conwy replaced Deganwy Castle
Deganwy Castle
Deganwy Castle was an early stronghold of Gwynedd and lies at the mouth of the River Conwy in Conwy, north Wales...
, an earlier stronghold built by Henry III
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
that had been destroyed by Llywelyn the Last
Llywelyn the Last
Llywelyn ap Gruffydd or Llywelyn Ein Llyw Olaf , sometimes rendered as Llywelyn II, was the last prince of an independent Wales before its conquest by Edward I of England....
in 1263.
Construction
Conwy's design and work were overseen by master mason James of St. GeorgeJames of St. George
Master James of Saint George , also known as Jacques de Saint-Georges d'Espéranche, was an architect from Savoy responsible for designing many of Edward I's castles, including Conwy, Harlech and Caernarfon and Beaumaris in Anglesey .Early records seem to indicate that his father, Master John, was...
using 1,500 labourers and stonecutters. An estimated £15,000 (£ as of ), was spent building the castle and the town's defences
Conwy town walls
Conwy's town walls are a medieval defensive structure around the town of Conwy in North Wales. The walls were constructed between 1283 and 1287 after the foundation of Conwy by Edward I, and were designed to form an integrated system of defence alongside Conwy Castle. The walls are 1.3 km ...
, the largest single sum Edward I spent on any of his Welsh castles between 1277 and 1304.
The defences are in a linear arrangement
Linear castle
A linear castle is a castle that was designed to confront its attackers with a series of barriers/impediments in a line .The principle was to funnel assaulting forces into attacking a very narrow front and focusing all of the castle's defences in that area...
because, like Caernarfon Castle
Caernarfon Castle
Caernarfon Castle is a medieval building in Gwynedd, north-west Wales. There was a motte-and-bailey castle in the town of Caernarfon from the late 11th century until 1283 when King Edward I of England began replacing it with the current stone structure...
, it was built on a rock promontory. This was to prevent undermining and also guard the entrance to the River Conwy
River Conwy
The River Conwy is a river in north Wales. From its source to its discharge in Conwy Bay it is a little over long. "Conwy" is sometimes Anglicized as "Conway."...
. The promontory, which is about 15 metres (49.2 ft) high, was originally surrounded by the river on two sides. With the advent of the North Wales Coast railway
North Wales Coast Line
The North Wales Coast Line is the railway line from Crewe to Holyhead. Virgin Trains consider their services along it to be a spur of the West Coast Main Line. The first section from Crewe to Chester was built by the Chester and Crewe Railway and absorbed by the Grand Junction Railway shortly...
in the 19th century, land reclamation around the castle has isolated it from the river.
Design
The castle was designed to have an outer and inner ward. Each ward was protected by four towers more than 70 feet (21.3 m) high, 30 feet (9.1 m) in diameter and consisting of several floors. The inner ward's towers also had the additional defence of archers' turretTurret
In architecture, a turret is a small tower that projects vertically from the wall of a building such as a medieval castle. Turrets were used to provide a projecting defensive position allowing covering fire to the adjacent wall in the days of military fortification...
s.
Access to the castle was originally up a stepped ramp - of which, a small part remains - across a drawbridge
Drawbridge
A drawbridge is a type of movable bridge typically associated with the entrance of a castle surrounded by a moat. The term is often used to describe all different types of movable bridges, like bascule bridges and lift bridges.-Castle drawbridges:...
, through a gateway with portcullis
Portcullis
A portcullis is a latticed grille made of wood, metal, fibreglass or a combination of the three. Portcullises fortified the entrances to many medieval castles, acting as a last line of defence during time of attack or siege...
and into the barbican
Barbican
A barbican, from medieval Latin barbecana, signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," with cognates in the Romance languages A barbican, from medieval Latin barbecana, signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," with cognates in the Romance languages A barbican, from...
. Entrants then turned left through the main gateway into the outer ward. This housed the main living quarters for the garrison and the prison tower.
The inner ward was separated from the rest of the castle by a 15 feet (4.6 m) thick wall with enfilading arrow slits. It also had a deep rock gully and an indirect gateway. In the event of attack, these measures would create a lethal bottleneck because the inner ward gateway was positioned at a right-hand turn to the wall. The extra defence was reflected in the inner ward's status. It contained Edward I
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
's heated Royal Apartments and the castle's Great Hall
Great Hall
Great Hall may refer to* Great hall, the main room of a royal palace, nobleman's castle or large manor house* Great Hall of the People, Tiananmen Square, Beijing* Great Hall of the University of Sydney, Australia* Cooper_Union#The_Great_Hall, New York...
. At the rear of the fortress, another barbican
Barbican
A barbican, from medieval Latin barbecana, signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," with cognates in the Romance languages A barbican, from medieval Latin barbecana, signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," with cognates in the Romance languages A barbican, from...
guarded the postern entrance
Postern
A postern is a secondary door or gate, particularly in a fortification such as a city wall or castle curtain wall. Posterns were often located in a concealed location, allowing the occupants to come and go inconspicuously. In the event of a siege, a postern could act as a sally port, allowing...
from the River Conwy
River Conwy
The River Conwy is a river in north Wales. From its source to its discharge in Conwy Bay it is a little over long. "Conwy" is sometimes Anglicized as "Conway."...
.
In the 13th century, a watchtower was built on the site of Bodysgallen Hall
Bodysgallen Hall
Bodysgallen Hall is a manor house in Conwy county borough, north Wales, near the village of Llanrhos. Since 2008 the house has been owned by The National Trust. It is a grade I listed building, and is currently used as a hotel. This listed historical building derives primarily from the 17th...
. Its purpose was to act as a lookout towards the north an area not easily watched from Conwy itself. Some of the stone used in construction of Conwy Castle has been linked to a quarry at Bodysgallen.
History
Construction at Conwy ceased in 1289. Six years later Edward I was besieged here during the rebellion of Madog ap LlywelynMadog ap Llywelyn
Madog ap Llywelyn, or Prince Madoc, was from a junior branch of the House of Aberffraw and a distant relation of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last recognised native Prince of Wales.-Lineage:...
. The siege lasted for several months and supplies ran low. However the castle and town were not captured. In the 14th century alterations were carried out under Edward, the Black Prince
Edward, the Black Prince
Edward of Woodstock, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, Prince of Aquitaine, KG was the eldest son of King Edward III of England and his wife Philippa of Hainault as well as father to King Richard II of England....
.
On 12 August 1399, after returning from Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, the unpopular king Richard II
Richard II of England
Richard II was King of England, a member of the House of Plantagenet and the last of its main-line kings. He ruled from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. Richard was a son of Edward, the Black Prince, and was born during the reign of his grandfather, Edward III...
made his way to Conwy Castle where he met the Earl of Northumberland
Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland
Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland, 4th Baron Percy, titular King of Mann, KG, Lord Marshal was the son of Henry de Percy, 3rd Baron Percy and a descendent of Henry III of England. His mother was Mary of Lancaster, daughter of Henry, 3rd Earl of Lancaster, son of Edmund, Earl of Leicester and...
for negotiations to give up his crown. A week later he surrendered to Henry Bolingbroke at Flint Castle
Flint Castle
Flint Castle located in Flint, Flintshire, was the first of a series of castles built during King Edward I's campaign to conquer Wales.The site was chosen for its strategic position in North East Wales...
promising to abdicate if his life was spared. Richard II was briefly imprisoned in the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
, and then transferred to Pontefract Castle, where he died in February 1400.
In 1403 Welsh forces led by Rhys ap Tudur
Rhys ap Tudur
Rhys ap Tudur was a Welsh nobleman and a key figure in the revolt of Owain Glyndŵr. A descendant of Ednyfed Fychan, he was escheator and sheriff of Anglesey before the revolt, and served as esquire of Richard II in the 1390s. He held the offices of sheriff and escheator of Anglesey as well as the...
and his brother Gwilym, sons of Tudur ap Gronw, and the cousins of Owain Glyndwr
Owain Glyndwr
Owain Glyndŵr , or Owain Glyn Dŵr, anglicised by William Shakespeare as Owen Glendower , was a Welsh ruler and the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales...
, captured the castle and its English garrison. The fortress and the soldiers were later ransomed back to Henry IV
Henry IV of England
Henry IV was King of England and Lord of Ireland . He was the ninth King of England of the House of Plantagenet and also asserted his grandfather's claim to the title King of France. He was born at Bolingbroke Castle in Lincolnshire, hence his other name, Henry Bolingbroke...
. Tudur ap Gronw was the forefather of Henry Tudor. During the War of the Roses Conwy was taken by William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke under orders from Edward IV
Edward IV of England
Edward IV was King of England from 4 March 1461 until 3 October 1470, and again from 11 April 1471 until his death. He was the first Yorkist King of England...
in 1461.
But by the early 17th century, the once great Royal Castle had become dilapidated and was largely unused. However at the outbreak of the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
Conwy was again garrisoned for the King
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
. It was captured after a three-month siege by the Parliamentary army in 1646. It was slighted and left as an empty shell.
Later the restored Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
granted Conwy Castle to Edward Conway, 3rd Viscount Conway
Earl of Conway
Earl of Conway was a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1679 for Edward Conway, 3rd Viscount Conway, subsequently Secretary of State for the Northern Department. The Conway family descended from Sir John Conway, Governor of Ostend. His son Edward Conway served as Secretary of State...
. In 1665 the remaining timber, iron and lead was removed from the castle by William Milward on behalf of the peer and sold.
Present day
The castle is a Scheduled Ancient MonumentScheduled Ancient Monument
In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a 'nationally important' archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorized change. The various pieces of legislation used for legally protecting heritage assets from damage and destruction are grouped under the term...
and managed by Cadw
Cadw
-Conservation and Protection:Many of Wales's great castles and other monuments, such as bishop's palaces, historic houses, and ruined abbeys, are now in Cadw's care. Cadw does not own them but is responsible for their upkeep and for making them accessible to the public...
. It is also part of the World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
entitled Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd
Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd
The Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd refers to a UNESCO-designated site of patrimony located in Gwynedd, Wales.In 1986, four castles related to the reign of King Edward I of England were proclaimed collectively as a World Heritage Site, as outstanding examples of fortifications and...
.
Gallery
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Conwy Castle (Medieval Conway Castle; ) is a castle in Conwy
Conwy
Conwy is a walled market town and community in Conwy County Borough on the north coast of Wales. The town, which faces Deganwy across the River Conwy, formerly lay in Gwynedd and prior to that in Caernarfonshire. Conwy has a population of 14,208...
, on the north coast of Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
It was built between 1283 and 1289 during King Edward I's
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
second campaign in North Wales.
Conwy replaced Deganwy Castle
Deganwy Castle
Deganwy Castle was an early stronghold of Gwynedd and lies at the mouth of the River Conwy in Conwy, north Wales...
, an earlier stronghold built by Henry III
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
that had been destroyed by Llywelyn the Last
Llywelyn the Last
Llywelyn ap Gruffydd or Llywelyn Ein Llyw Olaf , sometimes rendered as Llywelyn II, was the last prince of an independent Wales before its conquest by Edward I of England....
in 1263.
Construction
Conwy's design and work were overseen by master mason James of St. GeorgeJames of St. George
Master James of Saint George , also known as Jacques de Saint-Georges d'Espéranche, was an architect from Savoy responsible for designing many of Edward I's castles, including Conwy, Harlech and Caernarfon and Beaumaris in Anglesey .Early records seem to indicate that his father, Master John, was...
using 1,500 labourers and stonecutters. An estimated £15,000 (£ as of ), was spent building the castle and the town's defences
Conwy town walls
Conwy's town walls are a medieval defensive structure around the town of Conwy in North Wales. The walls were constructed between 1283 and 1287 after the foundation of Conwy by Edward I, and were designed to form an integrated system of defence alongside Conwy Castle. The walls are 1.3 km ...
, the largest single sum Edward I spent on any of his Welsh castles between 1277 and 1304.
The defences are in a linear arrangement
Linear castle
A linear castle is a castle that was designed to confront its attackers with a series of barriers/impediments in a line .The principle was to funnel assaulting forces into attacking a very narrow front and focusing all of the castle's defences in that area...
because, like Caernarfon Castle
Caernarfon Castle
Caernarfon Castle is a medieval building in Gwynedd, north-west Wales. There was a motte-and-bailey castle in the town of Caernarfon from the late 11th century until 1283 when King Edward I of England began replacing it with the current stone structure...
, it was built on a rock promontory. This was to prevent undermining and also guard the entrance to the River Conwy
River Conwy
The River Conwy is a river in north Wales. From its source to its discharge in Conwy Bay it is a little over long. "Conwy" is sometimes Anglicized as "Conway."...
. The promontory, which is about 15 metres (49.2 ft) high, was originally surrounded by the river on two sides. With the advent of the North Wales Coast railway
North Wales Coast Line
The North Wales Coast Line is the railway line from Crewe to Holyhead. Virgin Trains consider their services along it to be a spur of the West Coast Main Line. The first section from Crewe to Chester was built by the Chester and Crewe Railway and absorbed by the Grand Junction Railway shortly...
in the 19th century, land reclamation around the castle has isolated it from the river.
Design
The castle was designed to have an outer and inner ward. Each ward was protected by four towers more than 70 feet (21.3 m) high, 30 feet (9.1 m) in diameter and consisting of several floors. The inner ward's towers also had the additional defence of archers' turretTurret
In architecture, a turret is a small tower that projects vertically from the wall of a building such as a medieval castle. Turrets were used to provide a projecting defensive position allowing covering fire to the adjacent wall in the days of military fortification...
s.
Access to the castle was originally up a stepped ramp - of which, a small part remains - across a drawbridge
Drawbridge
A drawbridge is a type of movable bridge typically associated with the entrance of a castle surrounded by a moat. The term is often used to describe all different types of movable bridges, like bascule bridges and lift bridges.-Castle drawbridges:...
, through a gateway with portcullis
Portcullis
A portcullis is a latticed grille made of wood, metal, fibreglass or a combination of the three. Portcullises fortified the entrances to many medieval castles, acting as a last line of defence during time of attack or siege...
and into the barbican
Barbican
A barbican, from medieval Latin barbecana, signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," with cognates in the Romance languages A barbican, from medieval Latin barbecana, signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," with cognates in the Romance languages A barbican, from...
. Entrants then turned left through the main gateway into the outer ward. This housed the main living quarters for the garrison and the prison tower.
The inner ward was separated from the rest of the castle by a 15 feet (4.6 m) thick wall with enfilading arrow slits. It also had a deep rock gully and an indirect gateway. In the event of attack, these measures would create a lethal bottleneck because the inner ward gateway was positioned at a right-hand turn to the wall. The extra defence was reflected in the inner ward's status. It contained Edward I
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
's heated Royal Apartments and the castle's Great Hall
Great Hall
Great Hall may refer to* Great hall, the main room of a royal palace, nobleman's castle or large manor house* Great Hall of the People, Tiananmen Square, Beijing* Great Hall of the University of Sydney, Australia* Cooper_Union#The_Great_Hall, New York...
. At the rear of the fortress, another barbican
Barbican
A barbican, from medieval Latin barbecana, signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," with cognates in the Romance languages A barbican, from medieval Latin barbecana, signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," with cognates in the Romance languages A barbican, from...
guarded the postern entrance
Postern
A postern is a secondary door or gate, particularly in a fortification such as a city wall or castle curtain wall. Posterns were often located in a concealed location, allowing the occupants to come and go inconspicuously. In the event of a siege, a postern could act as a sally port, allowing...
from the River Conwy
River Conwy
The River Conwy is a river in north Wales. From its source to its discharge in Conwy Bay it is a little over long. "Conwy" is sometimes Anglicized as "Conway."...
.
In the 13th century, a watchtower was built on the site of Bodysgallen Hall
Bodysgallen Hall
Bodysgallen Hall is a manor house in Conwy county borough, north Wales, near the village of Llanrhos. Since 2008 the house has been owned by The National Trust. It is a grade I listed building, and is currently used as a hotel. This listed historical building derives primarily from the 17th...
. Its purpose was to act as a lookout towards the north an area not easily watched from Conwy itself. Some of the stone used in construction of Conwy Castle has been linked to a quarry at Bodysgallen.
History
Construction at Conwy ceased in 1289. Six years later Edward I was besieged here during the rebellion of Madog ap LlywelynMadog ap Llywelyn
Madog ap Llywelyn, or Prince Madoc, was from a junior branch of the House of Aberffraw and a distant relation of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last recognised native Prince of Wales.-Lineage:...
. The siege lasted for several months and supplies ran low. However the castle and town were not captured. In the 14th century alterations were carried out under Edward, the Black Prince
Edward, the Black Prince
Edward of Woodstock, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, Prince of Aquitaine, KG was the eldest son of King Edward III of England and his wife Philippa of Hainault as well as father to King Richard II of England....
.
On 12 August 1399, after returning from Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, the unpopular king Richard II
Richard II of England
Richard II was King of England, a member of the House of Plantagenet and the last of its main-line kings. He ruled from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. Richard was a son of Edward, the Black Prince, and was born during the reign of his grandfather, Edward III...
made his way to Conwy Castle where he met the Earl of Northumberland
Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland
Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland, 4th Baron Percy, titular King of Mann, KG, Lord Marshal was the son of Henry de Percy, 3rd Baron Percy and a descendent of Henry III of England. His mother was Mary of Lancaster, daughter of Henry, 3rd Earl of Lancaster, son of Edmund, Earl of Leicester and...
for negotiations to give up his crown. A week later he surrendered to Henry Bolingbroke at Flint Castle
Flint Castle
Flint Castle located in Flint, Flintshire, was the first of a series of castles built during King Edward I's campaign to conquer Wales.The site was chosen for its strategic position in North East Wales...
promising to abdicate if his life was spared. Richard II was briefly imprisoned in the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
, and then transferred to Pontefract Castle, where he died in February 1400.
In 1403 Welsh forces led by Rhys ap Tudur
Rhys ap Tudur
Rhys ap Tudur was a Welsh nobleman and a key figure in the revolt of Owain Glyndŵr. A descendant of Ednyfed Fychan, he was escheator and sheriff of Anglesey before the revolt, and served as esquire of Richard II in the 1390s. He held the offices of sheriff and escheator of Anglesey as well as the...
and his brother Gwilym, sons of Tudur ap Gronw, and the cousins of Owain Glyndwr
Owain Glyndwr
Owain Glyndŵr , or Owain Glyn Dŵr, anglicised by William Shakespeare as Owen Glendower , was a Welsh ruler and the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales...
, captured the castle and its English garrison. The fortress and the soldiers were later ransomed back to Henry IV
Henry IV of England
Henry IV was King of England and Lord of Ireland . He was the ninth King of England of the House of Plantagenet and also asserted his grandfather's claim to the title King of France. He was born at Bolingbroke Castle in Lincolnshire, hence his other name, Henry Bolingbroke...
. Tudur ap Gronw was the forefather of Henry Tudor. During the War of the Roses Conwy was taken by William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke under orders from Edward IV
Edward IV of England
Edward IV was King of England from 4 March 1461 until 3 October 1470, and again from 11 April 1471 until his death. He was the first Yorkist King of England...
in 1461.
But by the early 17th century, the once great Royal Castle had become dilapidated and was largely unused. However at the outbreak of the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
Conwy was again garrisoned for the King
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
. It was captured after a three-month siege by the Parliamentary army in 1646. It was slighted and left as an empty shell.
Later the restored Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
granted Conwy Castle to Edward Conway, 3rd Viscount Conway
Earl of Conway
Earl of Conway was a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1679 for Edward Conway, 3rd Viscount Conway, subsequently Secretary of State for the Northern Department. The Conway family descended from Sir John Conway, Governor of Ostend. His son Edward Conway served as Secretary of State...
. In 1665 the remaining timber, iron and lead was removed from the castle by William Milward on behalf of the peer and sold.
Present day
The castle is a Scheduled Ancient MonumentScheduled Ancient Monument
In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a 'nationally important' archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorized change. The various pieces of legislation used for legally protecting heritage assets from damage and destruction are grouped under the term...
and managed by Cadw
Cadw
-Conservation and Protection:Many of Wales's great castles and other monuments, such as bishop's palaces, historic houses, and ruined abbeys, are now in Cadw's care. Cadw does not own them but is responsible for their upkeep and for making them accessible to the public...
. It is also part of the World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
entitled Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd
Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd
The Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd refers to a UNESCO-designated site of patrimony located in Gwynedd, Wales.In 1986, four castles related to the reign of King Edward I of England were proclaimed collectively as a World Heritage Site, as outstanding examples of fortifications and...
.
Gallery
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Conwy Castle (Medieval Conway Castle; ) is a castle in Conwy
Conwy
Conwy is a walled market town and community in Conwy County Borough on the north coast of Wales. The town, which faces Deganwy across the River Conwy, formerly lay in Gwynedd and prior to that in Caernarfonshire. Conwy has a population of 14,208...
, on the north coast of Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
It was built between 1283 and 1289 during King Edward I's
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
second campaign in North Wales.
Conwy replaced Deganwy Castle
Deganwy Castle
Deganwy Castle was an early stronghold of Gwynedd and lies at the mouth of the River Conwy in Conwy, north Wales...
, an earlier stronghold built by Henry III
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
that had been destroyed by Llywelyn the Last
Llywelyn the Last
Llywelyn ap Gruffydd or Llywelyn Ein Llyw Olaf , sometimes rendered as Llywelyn II, was the last prince of an independent Wales before its conquest by Edward I of England....
in 1263.
Construction
Conwy's design and work were overseen by master mason James of St. GeorgeJames of St. George
Master James of Saint George , also known as Jacques de Saint-Georges d'Espéranche, was an architect from Savoy responsible for designing many of Edward I's castles, including Conwy, Harlech and Caernarfon and Beaumaris in Anglesey .Early records seem to indicate that his father, Master John, was...
using 1,500 labourers and stonecutters. An estimated £15,000 (£ as of ), was spent building the castle and the town's defences
Conwy town walls
Conwy's town walls are a medieval defensive structure around the town of Conwy in North Wales. The walls were constructed between 1283 and 1287 after the foundation of Conwy by Edward I, and were designed to form an integrated system of defence alongside Conwy Castle. The walls are 1.3 km ...
, the largest single sum Edward I spent on any of his Welsh castles between 1277 and 1304.
The defences are in a linear arrangement
Linear castle
A linear castle is a castle that was designed to confront its attackers with a series of barriers/impediments in a line .The principle was to funnel assaulting forces into attacking a very narrow front and focusing all of the castle's defences in that area...
because, like Caernarfon Castle
Caernarfon Castle
Caernarfon Castle is a medieval building in Gwynedd, north-west Wales. There was a motte-and-bailey castle in the town of Caernarfon from the late 11th century until 1283 when King Edward I of England began replacing it with the current stone structure...
, it was built on a rock promontory. This was to prevent undermining and also guard the entrance to the River Conwy
River Conwy
The River Conwy is a river in north Wales. From its source to its discharge in Conwy Bay it is a little over long. "Conwy" is sometimes Anglicized as "Conway."...
. The promontory, which is about 15 metres (49.2 ft) high, was originally surrounded by the river on two sides. With the advent of the North Wales Coast railway
North Wales Coast Line
The North Wales Coast Line is the railway line from Crewe to Holyhead. Virgin Trains consider their services along it to be a spur of the West Coast Main Line. The first section from Crewe to Chester was built by the Chester and Crewe Railway and absorbed by the Grand Junction Railway shortly...
in the 19th century, land reclamation around the castle has isolated it from the river.
Design
The castle was designed to have an outer and inner ward. Each ward was protected by four towers more than 70 feet (21.3 m) high, 30 feet (9.1 m) in diameter and consisting of several floors. The inner ward's towers also had the additional defence of archers' turretTurret
In architecture, a turret is a small tower that projects vertically from the wall of a building such as a medieval castle. Turrets were used to provide a projecting defensive position allowing covering fire to the adjacent wall in the days of military fortification...
s.
Access to the castle was originally up a stepped ramp - of which, a small part remains - across a drawbridge
Drawbridge
A drawbridge is a type of movable bridge typically associated with the entrance of a castle surrounded by a moat. The term is often used to describe all different types of movable bridges, like bascule bridges and lift bridges.-Castle drawbridges:...
, through a gateway with portcullis
Portcullis
A portcullis is a latticed grille made of wood, metal, fibreglass or a combination of the three. Portcullises fortified the entrances to many medieval castles, acting as a last line of defence during time of attack or siege...
and into the barbican
Barbican
A barbican, from medieval Latin barbecana, signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," with cognates in the Romance languages A barbican, from medieval Latin barbecana, signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," with cognates in the Romance languages A barbican, from...
. Entrants then turned left through the main gateway into the outer ward. This housed the main living quarters for the garrison and the prison tower.
The inner ward was separated from the rest of the castle by a 15 feet (4.6 m) thick wall with enfilading arrow slits. It also had a deep rock gully and an indirect gateway. In the event of attack, these measures would create a lethal bottleneck because the inner ward gateway was positioned at a right-hand turn to the wall. The extra defence was reflected in the inner ward's status. It contained Edward I
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
's heated Royal Apartments and the castle's Great Hall
Great Hall
Great Hall may refer to* Great hall, the main room of a royal palace, nobleman's castle or large manor house* Great Hall of the People, Tiananmen Square, Beijing* Great Hall of the University of Sydney, Australia* Cooper_Union#The_Great_Hall, New York...
. At the rear of the fortress, another barbican
Barbican
A barbican, from medieval Latin barbecana, signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," with cognates in the Romance languages A barbican, from medieval Latin barbecana, signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," with cognates in the Romance languages A barbican, from...
guarded the postern entrance
Postern
A postern is a secondary door or gate, particularly in a fortification such as a city wall or castle curtain wall. Posterns were often located in a concealed location, allowing the occupants to come and go inconspicuously. In the event of a siege, a postern could act as a sally port, allowing...
from the River Conwy
River Conwy
The River Conwy is a river in north Wales. From its source to its discharge in Conwy Bay it is a little over long. "Conwy" is sometimes Anglicized as "Conway."...
.
In the 13th century, a watchtower was built on the site of Bodysgallen Hall
Bodysgallen Hall
Bodysgallen Hall is a manor house in Conwy county borough, north Wales, near the village of Llanrhos. Since 2008 the house has been owned by The National Trust. It is a grade I listed building, and is currently used as a hotel. This listed historical building derives primarily from the 17th...
. Its purpose was to act as a lookout towards the north an area not easily watched from Conwy itself. Some of the stone used in construction of Conwy Castle has been linked to a quarry at Bodysgallen.
History
Construction at Conwy ceased in 1289. Six years later Edward I was besieged here during the rebellion of Madog ap LlywelynMadog ap Llywelyn
Madog ap Llywelyn, or Prince Madoc, was from a junior branch of the House of Aberffraw and a distant relation of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last recognised native Prince of Wales.-Lineage:...
. The siege lasted for several months and supplies ran low. However the castle and town were not captured. In the 14th century alterations were carried out under Edward, the Black Prince
Edward, the Black Prince
Edward of Woodstock, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, Prince of Aquitaine, KG was the eldest son of King Edward III of England and his wife Philippa of Hainault as well as father to King Richard II of England....
.
On 12 August 1399, after returning from Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, the unpopular king Richard II
Richard II of England
Richard II was King of England, a member of the House of Plantagenet and the last of its main-line kings. He ruled from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. Richard was a son of Edward, the Black Prince, and was born during the reign of his grandfather, Edward III...
made his way to Conwy Castle where he met the Earl of Northumberland
Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland
Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland, 4th Baron Percy, titular King of Mann, KG, Lord Marshal was the son of Henry de Percy, 3rd Baron Percy and a descendent of Henry III of England. His mother was Mary of Lancaster, daughter of Henry, 3rd Earl of Lancaster, son of Edmund, Earl of Leicester and...
for negotiations to give up his crown. A week later he surrendered to Henry Bolingbroke at Flint Castle
Flint Castle
Flint Castle located in Flint, Flintshire, was the first of a series of castles built during King Edward I's campaign to conquer Wales.The site was chosen for its strategic position in North East Wales...
promising to abdicate if his life was spared. Richard II was briefly imprisoned in the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
, and then transferred to Pontefract Castle, where he died in February 1400.
In 1403 Welsh forces led by Rhys ap Tudur
Rhys ap Tudur
Rhys ap Tudur was a Welsh nobleman and a key figure in the revolt of Owain Glyndŵr. A descendant of Ednyfed Fychan, he was escheator and sheriff of Anglesey before the revolt, and served as esquire of Richard II in the 1390s. He held the offices of sheriff and escheator of Anglesey as well as the...
and his brother Gwilym, sons of Tudur ap Gronw, and the cousins of Owain Glyndwr
Owain Glyndwr
Owain Glyndŵr , or Owain Glyn Dŵr, anglicised by William Shakespeare as Owen Glendower , was a Welsh ruler and the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales...
, captured the castle and its English garrison. The fortress and the soldiers were later ransomed back to Henry IV
Henry IV of England
Henry IV was King of England and Lord of Ireland . He was the ninth King of England of the House of Plantagenet and also asserted his grandfather's claim to the title King of France. He was born at Bolingbroke Castle in Lincolnshire, hence his other name, Henry Bolingbroke...
. Tudur ap Gronw was the forefather of Henry Tudor. During the War of the Roses Conwy was taken by William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke under orders from Edward IV
Edward IV of England
Edward IV was King of England from 4 March 1461 until 3 October 1470, and again from 11 April 1471 until his death. He was the first Yorkist King of England...
in 1461.
But by the early 17th century, the once great Royal Castle had become dilapidated and was largely unused. However at the outbreak of the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
Conwy was again garrisoned for the King
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
. It was captured after a three-month siege by the Parliamentary army in 1646. It was slighted and left as an empty shell.
Later the restored Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
granted Conwy Castle to Edward Conway, 3rd Viscount Conway
Earl of Conway
Earl of Conway was a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1679 for Edward Conway, 3rd Viscount Conway, subsequently Secretary of State for the Northern Department. The Conway family descended from Sir John Conway, Governor of Ostend. His son Edward Conway served as Secretary of State...
. In 1665 the remaining timber, iron and lead was removed from the castle by William Milward on behalf of the peer and sold.
Present day
The castle is a Scheduled Ancient MonumentScheduled Ancient Monument
In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a 'nationally important' archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorized change. The various pieces of legislation used for legally protecting heritage assets from damage and destruction are grouped under the term...
and managed by Cadw
Cadw
-Conservation and Protection:Many of Wales's great castles and other monuments, such as bishop's palaces, historic houses, and ruined abbeys, are now in Cadw's care. Cadw does not own them but is responsible for their upkeep and for making them accessible to the public...
. It is also part of the World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
entitled Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd
Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd
The Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd refers to a UNESCO-designated site of patrimony located in Gwynedd, Wales.In 1986, four castles related to the reign of King Edward I of England were proclaimed collectively as a World Heritage Site, as outstanding examples of fortifications and...
.
Gallery
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External links
