Conwy Town Walls

The Conwy town walls stand in the medieval walled town of Conwy in North Wales. They form a complete circuit around the old town, built between 1283 and 1287 on the orders of Edward I. The walls stretch for 1.3 kilometres and include 21 towers and three gatehouses. They were designed to protect the new English settlement and castle built on the site of Aberconwy Abbey. The walls were constructed quickly using large numbers of labourers brought from England. Master James of Saint George supervised the project, with sections built by Richard the Engineer, John Francis and Philip of Darley. The walls are recognised as one of the most impressive medieval defences in Europe. They survived damage during Owain Glyndŵr’s 1401 rebellion and later neglect in the 16th century. Historians Oliver Creighton and Robert Higham describe them as “one of the most impressive walled circuits” in Europe. The town’s English settlers relied on the walls for safety, though Welsh residents faced suspicion. The walls were guarded by crossbowmen, with improved firing positions added early in the 14th century. After Glyndŵr’s forces occupied the town for two months, the damage cost an estimated £5,000 to repair. Visitors today can walk along the top of the walls, following a continuous path that offers views over the town and the river Conwy. The wall-walk is open to the public and provides access to several towers. The 19th-century railway line passes through the walls via a mock-Gothic archway, blending modern engineering with medieval design. The walls form part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site managed by Cadw. Sections of the defences were restored in the 20th century, and buildings that had grown against the walls were removed to preserve the historic circuit. The walls remain largely intact, offering a clear sense of their original defensive purpose.