Conwy Castle

Built for battle, Conwy Castle is a fortification that still stands today. Constructed under the command of Edward I between 1283 and 1287, Conwy Castle was a colossal undertaking. The cost of £15,000, a massive sum for the period, saw the castle built as part of a wider project to create the walled town of Conwy, dominating an important crossing point over the River Conwy.

Conwy Castle played a pivotal role in several wars throughout its history. It withstood the siege of Madog ap Llywelyn in the winter of 1294–95, acted as a temporary haven for Richard II in 1399, and was held for several months by forces loyal to Owain Glyndŵr in 1401. During the English Civil War, the castle was held by forces loyal to Charles I before it surrendered to Parliamentary armies in 1646. General Thomas Mytton finally took the castle itself after a substantial siege.

In 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 were stripped and sold off. Conwy Castle became an attractive destination for painters in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Restoration work was carried out in the second half of the 19th century, and in the 21st century, the ruined castle is managed by Cadw as a tourist attraction.

UNESCO considers Conwy Castle one of ‘the finest examples of late 13th century and early 14th century military architecture in Europe’, and it is classed as a World Heritage Site.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons