Conway Castle

Castle in Conway, Wales, at the northeastern end of the Menai Strait. It was one of several castles built by Edward I in order to subjugate the Welsh. Begun in 1283, it was built to the design of James of St George. Its principal purpose was to protect the trade route through the Vale of Conway, and the design included walling the town.

Completed by 1290, it withstood a siege by the Welsh in 1294, but within 30 years it was showing signs of decay and was rebuilt in 1346.

By the early 17th century was so ruinous that it was sold in 1628 for £100 to Viscount Conway. Between 1642 and 1646, during the English Civil War, it was fortified by the archbishop of York, but fell to the Roundheads after a three‐month siege. It then fell into ruin and finally came into the care of the local authority in the 1870s. In 1953 it was transferred to the Ministry of Works (now Welsh Heritage) since when restoration has been continuous.