Caernarfon Town Walls

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Caernarvon

In the community of Caernarfon.
In the historic county of Caernarfonshire (Modern authority of Gwynedd, preserved county of Gwynedd).

Well preserved and almost complete C13 stone walls. Eight round towers and two twin-tower gates. Construction began in 1283, along with the castle. First phase completed by 1285. Of coursed rubble-stone construction. Wall comprises 2 gatehouses (Porth Yr Aut, NPRN 302418 and East Gate NPRN 302416) and eight round towers and has survived almost to its original full extent

This site has been described as a;
Urban Defence.
The confidence that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Certain.
Major remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.
This site is a Grade 1 listed building protected by law*.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SH477626

Modern Map from Good for landscape form and features	Modern Map from Good for general location
Air Photo from	1st edition OS Map from

Sources of information, references and further reading

National Monuments Record number; 93527

County Sites and Monuments Record number; 3096

• Web site links
  • http://www.cadw.wales.gov.uk/default.asp?id=6&PlaceID=38
• Books
  • Creighton, O.H. and Higham, R.A., 2005, Medieval Town Walls (Stroud: Tempus) p27, 32, 34, 40, 43, 45, 78, 91, 99, 100, 101-2, 131, 139, 143-4, 147, 161, 169, 178, 204, 212, 223
    Nichol, D., 2005, 'Geological provenance of Caernarfon Castle and town walls' in Bassett, M.G., Deisler, V.K. and Nichol, D. (eds), Urban geology in Walls Vol2 (Cardiff: National Museum of Wales) p204-8
    Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p23-24
    Salter, Mike, 1997, The Castles of North Wales (Malvern) p24-5
    Bond, C.J., 1987, 'Anglo-Saxon and Medieval Defences', in Schofield, J. and Leech, R. (eds) Urban Archaeology in Britain (CBA Research Report) p92-116
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p35
    Barley M.W., 1975, 'Town Defences in England and Wales after 1066' in Barley (ed) Medieval Towns in England and Wales (CBA research reports) pp57-71 plan p61
    Turner, H.L., 1971, Town Defences in England and Wales (London) p211
    Carter, H., 1969, 'Caernarvon' in Lobel, M.D. (ed), Historic Towns: Maps and Plans of Towns and Cities in the British Isles, with Historical Commentaries, from Earliest Times to 1800 Vol1 (London: Lovell Johns-Cook, Hammond and Kell Organization) p1-8
    RCAHMW, 1964, A survey and inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Caernarvonshire Vol3: West (HMSO) p121
    Colvin, H.M., Brown, R.Allen and Taylor, A.J., 1963, The history of the King's Works, vol1: the Middle Ages (London) p369-95
    RCAHMW, 1960, A survey and inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Caernarvonshire Vol2: Central (HMSO) p150-5
    Toy, S., 1955, A History of Fortifications from 3000 B.C. to A.D. 1700 (London) p178-80
    Buck, Samuel and Nathenial, 1774, Buck’s Antiquities (London) Vol367-8
• Journal Articles
  • Taylor, Arnold J., 1975, 'Caernarvon Castle and town walls (SH 478627)' Archaeological Journal Vol132 p287-289
    Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1967, 'Masonry castles in Wales and the Marches: a list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol116 p71-132
    1964, Medieval Archaeology Vol8 p269
    Johns, 1962, Archaeology in Wales Vol2 p12
    Kenrick Evans, 1945, 'Porth Mawr, Caernarvon' Transactions of the Caernarvonshire Historical Society Vol6 p64-7
    Kenrick Evans, 1944, 'Porth Mawr, Caernarvon' Transactions of the Caernarvonshire Historical Society Vol6 p1-11
    Kenrick Evans, 1941, 'Porth Mawr, Caernarvon' Transactions of the Caernarvonshire Historical Society Vol6 p33-42
• Guidebooks
  • Taylor, A. J., 2001, Caernarfon Castle including Caernarfon town walls (CADW)
    Taylor, A. J., 1964 (Reprint of 1953 edn with amendments), Caernarvon Castle and Town Walls (London, HMSO) p33-7
    Taylor, A. J., 1953, Caernarvon Castle and town walls (London, HMSO) p33-7
• Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)
  • William Camden, 1607, Britannia [http://www.philological.bham.ac.uk/cambrit/glameng.html#carn4]