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Conwy Castle

 

This image is by Sarah Lionheart and is copyright free

Conwy Castle is one of the series of castles built by Edward the First during his campaign to establish English power in Wales. Building work started in 1283 and resulted in one of the most impressive castles in Wales, built into the contours of a rock over looking the Conwy estuary. Castles tend to divide themselves into the symbolic and the brutally functional. Conwy leans towards the functional in a hugely impressive way, with eight towers and monumental connecting walls. A good castle will look so impressive that it probably won't have to be involved in actual fighting very often. So it was with Conwy. Richard the Second took refuge here in 1399 during Henry the Fourth's successful attempt to depose him, but was tricked into leaving the castle by the Duke of Northumberland. Conwy wasn't attacked until the English Civil War in the seventeenth century.

Today Conwy has no role to play in physical defense, but its role as a symbol continues. Castles might be militarily out of date, but the power of their symbolism lives on. Originally castles consisted of huge circular banks and ditches, built around hilltops. These were similar in appearance and design to the mystical circular banks and ditches which our Neolithic ancestors built at religious sites like Avebury in a quest for spiritual security. In many ways once castles have lost any role in providing physical security, they return to their original role of providing a more general reassurance.

A wall was also built around the settlement of Conwy itself, to protect this English plantation from the hostile Welsh. Much of this wall survives in a state of good preservation. It now serves to define the town, and gives it a rare character.

Conwy Castle is open every day except for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. There is a shop, an exhibition housed in one of the eight towers, information panels and a car park. No dogs permitted, except assistance dogs. The castle is about five miles from Llandudno. Take the A55 and follow signs to Conwy.

Opening Times: 1st April to 31st May 9:30am to 5pm daily. 1st June to 30th September 9:30am to 6pm daily. October 9:30am to 5pm daily. 1st November to 31st March 9:30am to 4pm Monday to Saturday and 11am to 4pm Sunday. Last admission is 30 minutes prior to closing.

Directions: Conwy is off the A547 in north Wales, between Bangor and Colwyn Bay. Click here for an interactive map centred on Conwy.

Access: wheelchair users can easily access the shop, pay desk and exhibition. The public toilets next to the shop include one Radar key toilet. The car park has five disabled spaces.

Contact: 01492 592358