Conwy Castle

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Conway; Aberconwy

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

Built for King Edward I between 1283-87, Master James of St George's design at Conwy remains one of the most outstanding achievements of medieval military architecture. The distinctive elongated shape, with its two barbicans, eight massive towers and great bow-shaped hall, was dictated by the narrow rocky outcrop on which the castle stands. World Heritage Site.

This site has been described as a;
Masonry Castle.
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 SH78367744

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; 121

County Sites and Monuments Record number; 2851

• Web site links
  • http://www.cadw.wales.gov.uk/default.asp?id=6&PlaceID=55
    http://www.castlewales.com/conwy.html
    http://www.greatcastlesofwales.co.uk/conwy.htm
    http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_wales/115/conwycastle.htm
    http://www.worldwidewales.tv/index2.php
    http://vrcoll.fa.pitt.edu/medart/image/England/Conway/mainconway.html
    http://www.archaeology.co.uk/ca/timeline/medieval/conway/conwy1.htm
    http://www.archaeology.co.uk/ca/issues/ca150/conwy1.htm
• Books
  • Ashbee, J., 2006, ' 'Changing rooms': interpreting form and function in the inner ward at Conwy Castle' in Draper, P, (ed), Current work in architectural history: papers read at the annual symposium of the Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain 2004 (London: SAHGB) p6-10
    Emery, Anthony, 2000, Greater Medieval Houses Vol2 (Cambridge) p614-5
    Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p25-30
    Reid, Alan, 1998, Castles of Wales (John Jones Publishing) p66-70
    Salter, Mike, 1997, The Castles of North Wales (Malvern) p30-33
    Taylor, A.J., 1986, ‘The Conwy particulars accounts for Nov 1285-Sept 1286’, in Taylor, A.J., Studies in castles and castle-building, (London: Hambledon Press) p145-54
    Taylor, A.J., 1986, ‘The dismantling of Conwy Castle’, in Taylor, A.J., Studies in castles and castle-building, (London: Hambledon Press) p155-64
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p33
    Taylor, A.J., 1986, The Welsh castles of Edward I (London, Hambledon) p45-62
    Humphries, P. H., 1983, Castles of Edward the First in Wales (London, HMSO)
    Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p342-4
    Colvin, H.M., Brown, R.Allen and Taylor, A.J., 1963, The history of the King's Works, vol1: the Middle Ages (London) p337-54
    RCAHMW, 1956, A survey and inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Caernarvonshire Vol1: East (HMSO) p46-55
    Toy, Sidney, 1953, The Castles of Great Britain (London) p167-9
    Neaverson, E., 1947, Mediaeval Castles in North Wales: A study of Sites, Water Supply, and Building Stones (London) p43-6
    Toy, Sidney, 1939, Castles: A short History of Fortifications from 1600 BC to AD 1600 (London) p156-7
    Evans, Herbert A., 1912, Castles of England and Wales (London) p342-4, 347-9
    Hamilton Thompson, A., 1912, Military Architecture in England during the Middle Ages (London) p252-62
    Lowe, W.Bezant, 1912, The Heart of North Wales (Llanfairfechan)Vol1 p187-200, 256-63
    Clark, G.T., 1884, Medieval military architecture in England (Wyman and Sons) Vol1 p453-60
    Timbs, J. and Gunn, A., 1872, Abbeys, Castles and Ancient Halls of England and Wales Vol3 (London) p435-7
    Grose, Francis, 1787, The Antiquities of England and Wales (London) Vol7 p23-7
    Buck, Samuel and Nathenial, 1774, Buck’s Antiquities (London) Vol2 p371-2
• Journal Articles
  • Mathieu, J.R., 1999, 'New Methods on Old Castles' Medieval Archaeology Vol43 p115-42
    Taylor, A.J., Nov 1996, 'Conwy Castle' Current Archaeology Vol150
    Taylor, A.J., 1995, 'The town and castle of Conwy: preservation and interpretation' Antiquities Journal Vol75 p339-63
    Taylor, A.J., 1985, ‘The dismantling of Conwy Castle’, Transaction of the Ancient Monuments Society new ser, 29 p81-9
    Taylor, A.J., 1984, ‘Conway Castle and town walls’, 131st annual meeting, Anglesey, 1984, CAA p32-3
    Taylor, A.J., 1982-3, ‘The Conwy particulars accounts for Nov 1285-Sept 1286’, Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies 30 p134-43
    Williams-Jones, K., 1978, ‘The taking of Conwy Castle, 1401’, Transactions of the Caernarvonshire Historical Society Vol39 p7-43
    Taylor, Arnold J., 1975, 'Conway Castle and town walls (SH 784775)' Archaeological Journal Vol132 p245-7
    Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1967, 'Masonry castles in Wales and the Marches: a list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol116 p71-132
    Edwards, J. Goronwy, 1944, 'Edward I's Castle-Building in Wales' Proceedings of the British Academy Vol32 esp p37-43, 70
    Hemp, W.J., 1941, Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol96, 163-74
    Hughes, 1938, Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol93 p75-8, 212-25
    1937, Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol92 p365-7
    Toy, S., 1936, 'The town and castle of Conway' Archaeologia Vol86 p163-71, 176-93
    Henderson, 1934, The Builder Vol46 p6-7 [slight]
    Humphreys, 1910-11, Llandudno Field Club Vol5 p21-37 [unimportant]
    Lowe, W.B., 1854, 'Conway Castle building accounts' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol5 p1-12
    Hartshorne, 1854, Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol5 p1-12
    J.A.P., 1847, The Builder Vol5 p443-4
    Taylor, A. J., 'Conwy - Castle in the 20th Century' Current Archaeology, Vol150 p222-
• Guidebooks
  • Taylor, A. J., 2003 (5edn), Conwy Castle including Conwy Town Walls (CADW)
    Taylor, A. J., 1990 (3edn), Conwy Castle and town walls (CADW)
    Taylor, A. J., 1986 (rev edn), Conwy Castle and town walls (CADW)
    Taylor, A. J., 1961 (rev edn), Conwy Castle and Town Walls, Caernarvonshire (HMSO)
    Taylor, A. J., 1956, Conwy Castle and Town Walls, Caernarvonshire (HMSO)
• Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)
  • William Camden, 1607, Britannia [http://www.philological.bham.ac.uk/cambrit/glameng.html#carn5]