Conwy Town Walls

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Conway; Aberconwy

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

The walls of Conwy are judged the finest in Britain. They are not only completely intact, but largely unencumbered by later building, and still give the impression of enclosing and protecting the town. Like the castle, their history is well documented, and they are sufficiently well-preserved in detail to demonstrate all the tactical features of their design. The circuit of the wall is 3/4 of a mile in length, with 21 towers at regular intervals of about 46m. The wall is 1.68m thick and 9m high, with towers rising to 15m. Built between 1283-1287. A murage for repairs had been granted sometime before 1322 but did not raise enough money and 'the Justices and chamberlain [were ordered] to supervise the repairs from the issues of the bailiwick, spending as much as is necessary according to the discretion of the constables.'

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 SH784774

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 95280 and others
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 284 '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=56
    http://www.castlewales.com/conwytw.html
    http://www.angelfire.com/wy/svenskildbiter/conwy.html
    http://www.archaeology.co.uk/ca/timeline/medieval/conway/conwy1.htm
• 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) p18, 27, 33-4, 40, 43, 99-102, 118, 125, 126, 136, 139, 144, 147-9, 204, 223, 237, 245-6, 274
    Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p29-30
    Salter, Mike, 1997, The Castles of North Wales (Malvern) p34-5
    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) p110-15
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus)
    Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p343-4
    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) p212-3
    Colvin, H.M., Brown, R.Allen and Taylor, A.J., 1963, The history of the King's Works, vol1: the Middle Ages (London) p337-54
    RCAHMW, 1956, A survey and inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Caernarvonshire Vol1: East (HMSO) p54-8
    Toy, S., 1955, A History of Fortifications from 3000 B.C. to A.D. 1700 (London) p178-9
    Lowe, W.Bezant, 1912, The Heart of North Wales (Llanfairfechan)Vol1 p263-6
    Lewis, Samual, 1849, A Topographical Dictionary of Wales http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=47815#s4
    Grose, Francis, 1787, The Antiquities of England and Wales (London) Vol7 p32-3
    Buck, Samuel and Nathenial, 1774, Buck’s Antiquities (London) Vol2 p371
• Journal Articles
  • Creighton, O., 2007, 'Contested townscapes: the walled city as world heritage' World Archaeology Vol39.3 p339-54
    Taylor, A.J., Nov 1996, 'Conwy Castle' Current Archaeology Vol150
    Taylor, A.J., 1995, 'The town and castle of Conwy: preservation and interpretation' Antiquities Journal Vol75 p339-63
    Taylor, Arnold J., 1976, 'Conway Castle and town walls (SH 784775)' Archaeological Journal Vol132 p245-7
    Taylor, Arnold J., 1970, 'The Walls of Conway (presidential address)' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol119 p1-9
    Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1967, 'Masonry castles in Wales and the Marches: a list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol116 p71-132
    Hemp, W.J., 1948, Country Life Vol104 p678-81
    Hughes, H.Harold (and Henderson), 1938, 'The Edwardian castle and town defences at Conway' Archaeologia Cambrensis p75-92
    Toy, S., 1936, Archaeologia p163-75
    Humphreys, 1912-13, Llandudno Filed Club Vol6 p66-81
• Guidebooks
  • Ashbee, J. A., 2007, Conwy Castle and town walls (CADW)
    Taylor, A. J., 2003 (5edn), Conwy Castle including Conwy Town Walls (CADW)
    Taylor, A. J., 1990 (3edn), Conwy Castle and town walls (CADW) p40-60
    Taylor, A. J., 1986 (rev edn), Conwy Castle and town walls (CADW)
    Taylor, A. J., 1961 (rev edn), Conwy Castle and Town Walls, Caernarvonshire (HMSO) p30-47
    Taylor, A. J., 1956, Conwy Castle and Town Walls, Caernarvonshire (HMSO)
• Primary (Medieval documents or transcriptions of such documents - This section is far from complete and the secondary sources should be consulted for full references.)
  • National Archive SC 8/188/9365
• Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)
  • William Camden, 1607, Britannia [http://www.philological.bham.ac.uk/cambrit/glameng.html#carn5]