The medieval walled town of Conwy was largely created at the hand of King Edward I of England as part of his larger plans to subjugate the Welsh people. Its strategic position at the north western edge of the magnificent mountains of Snowdonia and on the edge of the Estuary, are clear to see.
The walls themselves encircle the town and measure approximately three quarters of a mile. They remain largely intact today, allowing the visitor to follow them on a tour of the town itself.
Conwy Castle & Edward I
Conwy Castle dominates the town today as much as it did in medieval times. It is a truly impressive site overlooking the harbour and standing guard over the entrance to the town. Built by Edward I between 1283 and 1289, Conwy forms part of Edward I’s plans for an ‘iron ring’ of fortifications, which would bring the Welsh to heel. Other castles of the period include Caernarfon, Beaumaris, Rhuddlan, Flint and Harlech. The castle itself springs from the rock upon which it sits, offering a formidable defence against insurgents. Today, the visitor can climb the battlements and enjoy the breathtaking view of the Estuary and the Mountains of Wales.
Conwy's Bridges
First impressions of the castle have been enhanced by the sympathetic construction of road and rail bridges into the town. The wrought iron tubular bridge was constructed by Robert Stephenson and cleverly appears to carry the railway through the castle walls. It is the only surviving example of this type of bridge built by Stephenson. Alongside it is the elegant suspension bridge constructed by Thomas Telford in 1826, which although one of the first road suspension bridges constructed in the world, now only carries pedestrians. Before the bridge was built, the only means of crossing the estuary was by ferry. Following a tragic ferry boat accident on the treacherous crossing, plans to construct a crossing were expedited. This opened up the route for travel to Ireland. The modern day road, which replaces this crossing, has also been sympathetically designed.
Smallest House in Britain
Conwy is also home to the Smallest House in Britain, which can be found on the quayside and is easily recognised by its bright red paint and also by the presence of a visitor guide garbed in the traditional Welsh dress. The house, which contains one room downstairs and one room up a series of steep steps, is only 1.8m wide. Astonishingly, its last inhabitant was 6’3” tall! Built originally as a fisherman’s cottage, the house is full of interesting photographs and artefacts. An audio reel describes the history of the house.
Also in Conwy, Aberconwy House is a 14th century merchant’s house. This is considered to be the oldest example of a town house in Wales and provides many interesting examples of life evolving through history. An audio-visual tour can be enjoyed and visitors are reminded of the many mysterious encounters reported to have occurred in the house.
From the quayside, visitors can enjoy a scenic boat trip along the Conwy Estuary, which offer a great opportunity to view the panorama of Conwy itself. Fresh seafood can also be purchased from the quayside and there are many places to sit and while away the time whilst enjoying the sights.
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