Caernarfon Town Walls

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Caernarvon; Kairarvon

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

Well preserved and almost complete C13 stone walls. Eight round towers and two twin-tower gates. Construction began in 1283, along with the castle. First phase completed by 1285. Of coursed rubble-stone construction. Wall comprises 2 gatehouses (Porth Yr Aut, NPRN 302418 and East Gate NPRN 302416) and eight round towers and has survived almost to its original full extent

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law. This is a Grade 1 listed building protected by law*.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SH477626

Air Photo from Air Photo and general mapping	1st edition OS Map from Mid to late 19th century maps
Modern Map from Landscape form and features	Modern Map from General location and route planning
Geograph British Isles occasionally has photos of the site and will usually give an idea of the surrounding landscape.

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's National Monument Record (Coflein) number is 93527
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 3096 'grey' literature, such as watching brief reports, held by H.E.R.s is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded in this website.

• Web site links
  • http://www.cadw.wales.gov.uk/default.asp?id=6&PlaceID=38
    http://bookings.landmarktrust.org.uk/BuildingDetails/Overview/136/Bath_Tower
• Books
  • Lilley, K, Lloyd, C. and Trick, S., 2005, Mapping Medieval Townscapes: a digital atlas of the new towns of Edward I available at http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/resources.html?atlas_ahrb_2005
    Creighton, O.H. and Higham, R.A., 2005, Medieval Town Walls (Stroud: Tempus) p27, 32, 34, 40, 43, 45, 78, 91, 99, 100, 101-2, 131, 139, 143-4, 147, 161, 169, 178, 204, 212, 223
    Nichol, D., 2005, 'Geological provenance of Caernarfon Castle and town walls' in Bassett, M.G., Deisler, V.K. and Nichol, D. (eds), Urban geology in Wales Vol2 (Cardiff: National Museum of Wales) p204-8
    Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p23-24
    Salter, Mike, 1997, The Castles of North Wales (Malvern) p24-5
    Bond, C.J., 1987, 'Anglo-Saxon and Medieval Defences', in Schofield, J. and Leech, R. (eds) Urban Archaeology in Britain (CBA Research Report) p92-116
    Soulsby, Ian, 1983, The Towns of Medieval Wales (Phillimore; Chichester) p88-92 [plan]
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p35
    Barley M.W., 1975, 'Town Defences in England and Wales after 1066' in Barley (ed) Medieval Towns in England and Wales (CBA research reports) pp57-71 plan p61
    Turner, H.L., 1971, Town Defences in England and Wales (London) p211
    Carter, H., 1969, 'Caernarvon' in Lobel, M.D. (ed), Historic Towns: Maps and Plans of Towns and Cities in the British Isles, with Historical Commentaries, from Earliest Times to 1800 Vol1 (London: Lovell Johns-Cook, Hammond and Kell Organization) p1-8
    RCAHMW, 1964, A survey and inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Caernarvonshire Vol3: West (HMSO) p121
    Colvin, H.M., Brown, R.Allen and Taylor, A.J., 1963, The history of the King's Works, vol1: the Middle Ages (London) p369-95
    RCAHMW, 1960, A survey and inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Caernarvonshire Vol2: Central (HMSO) p150-6
    Toy, S., 1955, A History of Fortifications from 3000 B.C. to A.D. 1700 (London) p178-80
    Lewis, Samual, 1849, A Topographical Dictionary of Wales http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=47810#s1
    Buck, Samuel and Nathenial, 1774, Buck’s Antiquities (London) Vol367-8
• Journal Articles
  • Taylor, Arnold J., 1976, 'Caernarvon Castle and town walls (SH 478627)' The Archaeological Journal Vol132 p287-289
    Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1967, 'Masonry castles in Wales and the Marches: a list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol116 p71-132
    1964, Medieval Archaeology Vol8 p269 [downloadable via http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/resources.html?medarch]
    Johns, 1962, Archaeology in Wales Vol2 p12
    Kenrick Evans, 1945, 'Porth Mawr, Caernarvon' Transactions of the Caernarvonshire Historical Society Vol6 p64-7
    Kenrick Evans, 1944, 'Porth Mawr, Caernarvon' Transactions of the Caernarvonshire Historical Society Vol6 p1-11
    Kenrick Evans, 1941, 'Porth Mawr, Caernarvon' Transactions of the Caernarvonshire Historical Society Vol6 p33-42
• Guidebooks
  • Taylor, A. J., 2001, Caernarfon Castle including Caernarfon town walls (CADW)
    Taylor, A. J., 1964 (Reprint of 1953 edn with amendments), Caernarvon Castle and Town Walls (London, HMSO) p33-7
    Taylor, A. J., 1953, Caernarvon Castle and town walls (London, HMSO) p33-7
• Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)
  • John Speed, 1610, Map of Caernarvon
    William Camden, 1607, Britannia [http://www.philological.bham.ac.uk/cambrit/glameng.html#carn4]