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{{Short description|Grade I listed building in Conwy, Wales}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox military installation
|name=Conwy Castle
|native_name= Castell Conwy
|partof=
|location=[[Conwy (county borough)|Conwy]], Wales
|map_type = UK Wales
|map_alt = Located in North Wales
|map_caption = Location in Wales
|coordinates = {{coord|53.28|-3.825556|type:landmark_region:GB-CWY|display=inline,title}}
|map_size = 200px
|image=Conwy Castle, water view1.jpg
|image_size=260px
|caption=Conwy Castle from the river
|type        = Rectangular enclosure castle 
|built=1283–89
|builder=[[James of St. George]]
|materials= {{ubl|[[Limestone]]|[[Sandstone]]}}
|height= 
|used=
|demolished=
|condition= Ruined
|ownership=[[Cadw]]
|website= [https://cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/castell-conwy?lang=en cadw.gov.wales] <!-- {{URL}} Parameter 2 (display text) is deprecated. If you wish to display text instead of the URL (e.g., website instead of example.com), do not use {{URL}}. -->
|garrison=
|commanders=
|occupants=
|battles=
|events= {{Plainlist|
*Revolt of [[Madog ap Llywelyn]] (1294–95)
*Revolt of [[Owain Glyndŵr]] (1400–09)
*[[English Civil War]] (1642–46)
}}
|embedded = {{Infobox UNESCO World Heritage Site
  |child = yes
  |Part_of = [[Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd]]
  |ID = 374
  |Year = 1986
  |Criteria = Cultural: i, iii, iv
  }}{{Infobox designation list
   |embed = yes
   |designation1 = UK GRADE I
   |designation1_date = 1950
   }}
}}

'''Conwy Castle''' ({{langx|cy|Castell Conwy}}; {{IPA|cy|kastɛɬ 'kɔnwɨ̞}}) is a fortification in [[Conwy]], located in North Wales. It was built by [[Edward I of England|Edward I]], during his [[Conquest of Wales by Edward I|conquest of Wales]], between 1283 and 1287. Constructed as part of a wider project to create the [[Conwy town walls|walled town of Conwy]], the combined defences cost around £15,000, a massive sum for the period. Over the next few centuries, the castle played an important part in several wars. It withstood [[Welsh rebellions against English rule|the siege]] of [[Madog ap Llywelyn]] in the winter of 1294–95, acted as a temporary haven for [[Richard II of England|Richard II]] in 1399 and was held for several months by forces loyal to [[Owain Glyndŵr]] in 1401.

Following the outbreak of the [[English Civil War]] in 1642, the castle was held by forces loyal to [[Charles I of England|Charles I]], holding out until 1646 when it surrendered to the [[Roundheads|Parliamentary]] armies. In the aftermath, the castle was partially slighted by Parliament to prevent it being used in any further revolt, and was finally completely ruined in 1665 when its remaining iron and lead was stripped and sold off. Conwy Castle became an attractive destination for painters in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Visitor numbers grew and initial restoration work was carried out in the second half of the 19th century. In the 21st century, the ruined castle is managed by [[Cadw]] as a tourist attraction.

[[UNESCO]] considers Conwy to be one of "the finest examples of late 13th century and early 14th century military architecture in Europe", and it is classed as a [[World Heritage Site]].<ref name=UNESCO>{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/374/|title=Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd|access-date=12 September 2012|publisher=[[UNESCO]]}}</ref> The rectangular castle is built from local and imported stone and occupies a coastal ridge, originally overlooking an important crossing point over the [[River Conwy]]. Divided into an Inner and an Outer Ward, it is defended by eight large towers and two [[barbican]]s, with a [[postern]] gate leading down to the river, allowing the castle to be resupplied from the sea. It retains the earliest surviving stone [[machicolation]]s in Britain and what historian Jeremy Ashbee has described as the "best preserved suite of medieval private royal chambers in England and Wales".<ref name=Ashbee2007PP34>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|pp=34–35}}.</ref> In keeping with other Edwardian castles in North Wales, the architecture of Conwy has close links to that found in the [[Savoy]] during the same period, an influence probably derived from the Savoy origins of the main architect, [[James of Saint George]].

==History==

===13th century===
Before the English built the town of Conwy, [[Aberconwy Abbey]], the site was occupied by a [[Cistercian]] monastery favoured by the Welsh princes,<ref name=AshbeeP47>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|p=47}}.</ref> as well as the location of one of the palaces (called llys) of the Welsh princes. From [[Conwy]]: "the oldest structure is part of the town walls, at the southern end of the east side. Here one wall and the tower of a llys [palace/court house] belonging to [[Llywelyn the Great]] and his grandson [[Llywelyn ap Gruffudd|Llywelyn ap Gruffydd]] have been incorporated into the wall. Built on a rocky outcrop, with an apsidal tower, it is a classic, native, Welsh build and stands out from the rest of the town walls, due to the presence of four window openings. It dates from the early 13th century and is the most complete remnant of any of his Llys."

The location also controlled an important crossing point over the [[River Conwy]] between the coastal and inland areas of North Wales, that [[Deganwy Castle]] for many years had defended.<ref name=AshbeeP47/> The kings of England and the Welsh princes had vied for control of the region since the 1070s and the conflict had resumed during the 13th century, leading to [[Edward I of England|Edward I]] intervening in North Wales for the second time during his reign in 1282.<ref>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|p=5}}; {{harvnb|Taylor|2008|pp=6–7}}.</ref>

[[File:Conwy castle, early 1300s.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|left|Reconstruction of Conwy Castle and town walls at the end of the 13th century. Model located in Conwy Castle.]]

Edward invaded with a huge army, pushing north from [[Carmarthen]] and westwards from [[Montgomery, Powys|Montgomery]] and [[Chester]]. Edward captured Aberconwy in March 1283 and decided that the location would form the centre of a new [[county]]: he would relocate the abbey eight miles up the Conwy valley to a new site at Maenan, establishing [[Maenan Abbey]], and build a new English castle and walled town on the monastery's former site.<ref>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|p=6}}.</ref> The ruined castle of Deganwy was abandoned and never rebuilt.<ref>{{harvnb|Pounds|1994|pp=172–173}}.</ref> Edward's plan was a [[Colonialism|colonial]] enterprise and placing the new town and walls on top of such a high-status native Welsh site was in part a symbolic act to demonstrate English power.<ref>{{harvnb|Creighton|Higham|2005|p=101}}.</ref>

Work began on cutting the ditch around Conwy Castle within days of Edward's decision.<ref>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|p=7}}.</ref> The work was controlled by Sir John Bonvillars and overseen by master mason [[James of St. George]], and the first phase of work between 1283 and 1284 focused on creating the exterior curtain walls and towers.<ref>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|pp=8–9}}</ref> In the second phase, from 1284 and 1286, the interior buildings were erected, while work began on the walls for the neighbouring town.<ref name=Ashbee2007P9>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|p=9}}.</ref> By 1287, the castle was complete.<ref name=Ashbee2007P9/> The builders recruited huge numbers of labourers from across England for the task. At each summer building season, the labourers massed at Chester and then walked into Wales.<ref>{{harvnb|Brown|1962|pp=123–125}}; {{harvnb|Taylor|2008|p=8}}.</ref> Edward's accountants did not separate the costs of the town walls from that of the castle, but the total cost of the two projects came to around £15,000, a huge sum for the period.<ref name="Ashbee2007P9"/>{{refn|It is impossible to accurately compare medieval and modern prices or incomes. For comparison, £15,000 is around twenty-five times the annual income of a 14th-century nobleman such as [[Richard le Scrope, 1st Baron Scrope of Bolton|Richard le Scrope]].<ref>{{harvnb|Given-Wilson|1996|p=157}}.</ref>|group=nb}}

The castle's constable was, by a royal charter of 1284, also the mayor of the new town of Conwy (to this day, the Mayor is ex-officio Constable of the Castle), and oversaw a castle garrison of 30 soldiers, including 15 [[crossbow]]men, supported by a carpenter, chaplain, blacksmith, engineer and a stonemason.<ref>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|pp=27, 29}}.</ref> The first constable of the castle was Sir [[William de Cicon]] who had previously been the first constable of [[Rhuddlan Castle]]. In 1294 [[Madog ap Llywelyn]] [[Welsh revolt of 1294–95|rebelled against English rule]]. Edward was besieged at Conwy by the Welsh between December and January 1295, supplied only by sea, before forces arrived to relieve him in February.<ref>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|p=10}}; {{harvnb|Brears|2010|p=91}}.</ref> Chronicler [[Walter of Guisborough]] suggested that given the austere conditions Edward refused to drink his own private supply of wine, and instead had it shared out amongst the garrison.<ref>{{harvnb|Brears|2010|p=91}}.</ref> For some years afterwards, the castle formed the main residence for visiting senior figures, and hosted Edward's son, the future [[Edward II of England|Edward II]] in 1301 when he visited the region to receive [[Homage (feudal)|homage]] from the Welsh leaders.<ref>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|pp=10, 35}}.</ref>

===14th–15th centuries===
[[File:Conwy Castle, Conwy - geograph.org.uk - 2485295.jpg|thumb|250px|Conwy Castle seen from the west, showing the barbican guarding the Outer Ward]]

Conwy Castle was not well maintained during the early 14th century and by 1321 a survey reported it was poorly equipped, with limited stores and suffering from leaking roofs and rotten timbers.<ref name=Ashbee2007P11>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|p=11}}.</ref> These problems persisted until [[Edward, the Black Prince]], took over control of the castle in 1343.<ref name=Ashbee2007P11/> Sir John Weston, his chamberlain, conducted repairs, building new stone support arches for the great hall and other parts of the castle.<ref name=Ashbee2007P11/> After the death of the Black Prince, however, Conwy fell into neglect again.<ref name=Ashbee2007P11/>

At the end of the 14th century, the castle was used as a refuge by [[Richard II of England|Richard II]] from the forces of his rival, [[Henry IV of England|Henry Bolingbroke]].<ref>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|pp=11–12}}.</ref> On 12&nbsp;August 1399, after returning from [[Ireland]], Richard made his way to the castle where he met Bolingbroke's emissary, [[Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland|Henry Percy]], for negotiations.<ref name=Ashbee2007P12>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|p=12}}.</ref> Percy swore in the chapel he would not harm the king. On 19 August, Richard surrendered to Percy at [[Flint Castle]], promising to abdicate if his life were spared.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.luminarium.org/encyclopedia/richard2.htm|title=Richard II, King of England (1367–1400)|publisher=Luminarium.org|access-date=22 May 2013}}</ref> The king was then taken to London and died later in captivity at [[Pontefract Castle]].<ref name=Ashbee2007P12/>

Henry Bolingbroke took the English throne to rule as Henry IV in 1399, but rebellion broke out in North Wales shortly afterwards under the leadership of [[Owain Glyndŵr]].<ref name=Ashbee2007P12/> In April 1401, on Good Friday, [[Rhys ap Tudur]] and his brother Gwilym, cousins of Owain Glyndŵr, undertook a surprise attack on Conwy Castle.<ref name=Ashbee2007P12/> Pretending to be carpenters repairing the castle, the two gained entry, killed the two watchmen on duty and took control of the fortress.<ref name=Ashbee2007P12/> Welsh rebels then attacked and captured the rest of the walled town.<ref>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|pp=12–13}}.</ref> The brothers held out for around three months, before negotiating a surrender; as part of this agreement the pair were given a royal pardon by Henry.<ref name=Ashbee2007P12/>

During the [[War of the Roses]] between 1455 and 1485, fought by the rival factions of the [[House of Lancaster|Lancastrians]] and the [[House of York|Yorkists]], Conwy was reinforced but played little part in the fighting.<ref name=Ashbee2007P13>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|p=13}}.</ref> [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]] conducted restoration work in the 1520s and 1530s, during which time the castle was being used as a prison, a depot and as a potential residence for visitors.<ref name=Ashbee2007P13/>

===17th–21st centuries===
[[File:Conwy Castle - BakehouseTower - geograph.org.uk - 1480637.jpg|thumb|left|upright|The Bakehouse Tower with watchtower, guarding the Inner Ward, overlooking the [[North Wales Coast Line]]]]

Conwy Castle fell into disrepair again by the early 17th century.<ref name=Ashbee2007P14>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|p=14}}.</ref> [[Charles I of England|Charles I]] sold it to [[Edward Conway, 1st Viscount Conway|Edward Conway]] in 1627 for £100, and Edward's son, also called [[Edward Conway, 2nd Viscount Conway|Edward]], inherited the ruin in 1631.<ref name=Ashbee2007P14/>{{refn|It is difficult to accurately compare 17th century and modern prices or incomes. Depending on the measure used, £100 could equate to between £15,200 to £3,180,000 in 2011 terms. For comparison, [[Henry Somerset, 1st Marquess of Worcester|Henry Somerset]], one of the richest men in England at the time, had an annual income of around £20,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.measuringworth.com/calculators/ukcompare/|title=Measuring Worth Five Ways to Compute the Relative Value of a UK Pound Amount, 1830 to Present|access-date=12 September 2012|publisher=MeasuringWorth}}; {{harvnb|Pugin|1895|p=23}}.</ref>|group=nb}} In 1642 the [[English Civil War]] broke out between the [[Cavaliers|Charles' royalist supporters]] and [[Roundheads|Parliament]].<ref name=Ashbee2007P14/> [[John Williams (archbishop of York)|John Williams]], the [[Archbishop of York]], took charge of the castle on behalf of the king, and set about repairing and garrisoning it at his own expense.<ref name=Ashbee2007P14/> In 1645, Sir [[John Owen (Royalist)|John Owen]] was appointed governor of the castle instead, however, leading to a bitter dispute between the two men.<ref>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|pp=14–15}}.</ref> The Archbishop defected to Parliament, the town of Conwy fell in August 1646 and in November General [[Thomas Mytton]] finally took the castle itself after a substantial siege.<ref name=Ashbee2007P16>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|p=16}}.</ref> The [[John Trevor (1596–1673)|Trevor family]] petitioned Mytton for the return of property in the castle that they had lent to the Archbishop.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hamilton|first=William Douglas|title=Charles I|orig-date=October 1646|series=Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles I, 1645-7|publisher=Her Majesty's Stationery Office|location=London|date=1891|url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/domestic/chas1/1645-7/pp474-485|website=British History Online|volume=514|pp=474–485}}</ref>

In the aftermath of the siege, Colonel John Carter was appointed governor of the castle and fresh repairs were carried out.<ref name=Ashbee2007P16/> In 1655 [[English Council of State|the Council of State]] appointed by Parliament ordered the castle to be [[Slighting|slighted]], or put beyond military use: the Bakehouse tower was probably deliberately partially pulled down at this time as part of the slighting.<ref name=Ashbee2007P16/> With the [[Restoration (England)|restoration]] of [[Charles II of England|Charles II]] in 1660, Conwy was returned to [[Edward Conway, 1st Earl of Conway|Edward Conway]], the [[Earl of Conway]], but five years later Edward decided to strip the remaining iron and lead from the castle and sell it off.<ref>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|pp=15–16}}.</ref> The work was completed under the supervision of Edward Conway's overseer William Milward, despite opposition from the leading citizens of Conwy, and turned the castle into a total ruin.<ref name=Ashbee2007P17>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|p=17}}.</ref>

By the end of the 18th century, the ruins were considered [[picturesque]] and [[Sublime (literary)|sublime]], attracting visitors and artists, and paintings of the castle were made by [[Thomas Girtin]], [[Moses Griffith (engraver)|Moses Griffith]], [[Julius Caesar Ibbetson]], [[Paul Sandby]] and [[J. M. W. Turner]].<ref name=Ashbee2007P17/> Several bridges were built across the River Conwy linking the town and [[Llandudno]] during the 19th century, including a [[Conwy Suspension Bridge|road bridge]] in 1826 and a [[Conwy Railway Bridge|rail bridge]] in 1848. These improved communication links with the castle and further increased tourist numbers.<ref name=Ashbee2007P18>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|p=18}}.</ref> In 1865 Conwy Castle passed from the Holland family, who had leased it from the descendants of the Conways to the civic leadership of Conwy town. Restoration work on the ruins then began, including the reconstruction of the damaged Bakehouse tower.<ref name=Ashbee2007P18/> In 1953 the castle was leased to the [[Ministry of Works (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Works]] and [[A. J. Taylor|Arnold Taylor]] undertook a wide range of repairs and extensive research into the castle's history.<ref>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|pp=18–19}}.</ref> An additional road bridge was built to the castle in 1958.<ref name=Ashbee2007P18/> Already protected as a [[scheduled monument]], in 1986 it was also declared part of the [[World Heritage Site]] of the "[[Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd]]".<ref>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|p=19}}.</ref>

In the 21st century the castle is managed by [[Cadw]] as a tourist attraction and 186,897 tourists visited the castle in 2010; a new visitor centre was opened in 2012.<ref>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|p=19}}; {{cite web|url=http://alva.org.uk/details.cfm?p=413&codeid=300760|title=Attractions Industry News|access-date=12 September 2012|publisher=Association of Leading Visitor Attractions}}; {{cite web|url=http://www.economigwynedd.info/download.asĥ?r=1346&f...pdf|title=Gwynedd Destination and Marketing Audit|page=22|access-date=12 September 2012|publisher=Gwynedd Council|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140602195922/http://www.economigwynedd.info/download.as%C4%A5?r=1346&f...pdf|archive-date=2 June 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> The castle requires ongoing maintenance and repairs cost £30,000 over the 2002–03 financial year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cadw.wales.gov.uk/docs/cadw/publications/WHS_part_2_EN.pdf|title=Part 2: Significance and Vision|page=56|access-date=12 September 2012|publisher= Cadw|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324104256/http://cadw.wales.gov.uk/docs/cadw/publications/WHS_part_2_EN.pdf|archive-date=24 March 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Conwy Castle was twinned with [[Himeji Castle]], [[Hyōgo Prefecture]], [[Japan]] at a formal ceremony in [[Himeji]] on 29 October 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Conwy and Himeji castles' twinning starts 'beautiful friendship'|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-50339999|agency=BBC News|access-date=8 June 2021|date=7 November 2019}}</ref>

In December 2023, [[Condé Nast]] voted the castle as the most stunning in Europe, beating the likes of [[Eilean Donan]] in Scotland, and [[Kylemore Abbey]] in Ireland.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nation.cymru/culture/the-castle-voted-europes-most-beautiful-is-in-wales-2/|website=nation.cymru|title=The castle voted Europe's most beautiful is in Wales|date=28 December 2023|access-date=19 October 2024}}</ref>

==Architecture==
[[File:Conwy Castle plan.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8|Plan of the castle]]
The castle hugs a rocky coastal ridge of grey [[sandstone]] and [[limestone]], and much of the stone from the castle is largely taken from the ridge itself, probably when the site was first cleared.<ref>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|p=21}}; {{harvnb|Lott|2010|p=115}}.</ref> The local stone was not of sufficient quality to be used for carving details such as windows, however, and accordingly sandstone was brought in from the [[Creuddyn peninsula]], [[Chester]] and [[Wirral Peninsula|the Wirral]].<ref name=LottP115>{{harvnb|Lott|2010|p=115}}.</ref> This sandstone was more colourful than the local grey stone, and was probably deliberately chosen for its appearance.<ref name=LottP115/>

The castle has a rectangular plan and is divided into an [[inner ward|Inner]] and [[outer ward|Outer]] Ward, separated by a [[cross-wall]], with four large, {{convert|70|ft|adj=on}} tall towers on each side; originally the castle would have been white-washed using a [[lime render]].<ref>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|pp=21, 24}}; {{harvnb|Lepage|2012|p=210}}.</ref> The outside of the towers still have the putlog holes from their original construction, where timbers were inserted to create a spiralling ramp for the builders.<ref>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|p=22}}.</ref> Although now somewhat decayed, the battlements originally sported triple finial designs and featured a sequence of square holes running along the outside of the walls.<ref name=Ashbee2007P23>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|p=23}}.</ref> It is uncertain what these holes were used for – they may have been drainage holes, supports for defensive [[Hoarding (castles)|hoarding]] or for displaying ornamental shields.<ref name=Ashbee2007P23/>

The main entrance to the castle is through the western [[barbican]], an exterior defence in front of the main gate.<ref name=Ashbee2007PP24>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|pp=24–25}}.</ref> When first built, the barbican was reached over a drawbridge and a masonry ramp that came up sharply from the town below; the modern path cuts east along the outside of the walls.<ref name=Ashbee2007PP24/> The barbican features the earliest surviving stone [[machicolation]]s in Britain, and the gate would originally have been protected by a [[portcullis]].<ref>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|p=25}}.</ref>

[[File:Conwycastlew.JPG|thumb|left|The Outer Ward, with the great hall and chapel (r)]]

The gate leads through to the Outer Ward which, when first built, would have been full of various administrative and service buildings.<ref>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|p=26}}.</ref> The north-west tower was reached through the porter's lodge and contained limited accommodation and space for stores.<ref name=Ashbee2007P27>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|p=27}}.</ref> The south-west tower may have been used either by the castle's constable, or by the castle's garrison, and also contained a bakehouse.<ref name=Ashbee2007P27/> On the south side of the ward is a range of buildings that included the great hall and chapel, sitting on top of the cellars, which are now exposed.<ref>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|pp=28–29}}.</ref> The stubs and one surviving stone arches from the 1340s can still be seen.<ref>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|p=30}}</ref> Behind the great hall was the tower used by the constable for detaining prisoners; this included a special room for holding prisoners, called the "dettors chambre" ("debtors' chamber") in the 16th century, and an underground dungeon.<ref>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|pp=29–31}}.</ref> On the north side of the ward was a range of service buildings, including a kitchen, brewhouse and bakehouse, backed onto by the kitchen tower, containing accommodation and storerooms.<ref>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|pp=31–32}}.</ref>

The Inner Ward was originally separated from the Outer Ward by an internal wall, a drawbridge and a gate, protected by a ditch cut into the rock.<ref>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|pp=32–33}}.</ref> The ditch was filled in during the 16th century and the drawbridge removed.<ref name=Ashbee2007P33>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|p=33}}.</ref> The spring-fed castle well built alongside the gate survives, and today is {{convert|91|ft|adj=on}} deep.<ref name=Ashbee2007P33/> Inside, the ward contained the chambers for the royal household, their immediate staff and service facilities; today, historian Jeremy Ashbee considers them to be the "best-preserved suite of medieval private royal chambers in England and Wales".<ref name=Ashbee2007PP34/> They were designed to form a royal palace in miniature, that could, if necessary, be sealed off from the rest of the castle and supplied from the eastern gate by sea almost indefinitely, although in practice they were rarely used by the royal family.<ref>{{harvnb|Brears|2010|p=86}}; {{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|p=35}}.</ref>

[[File:Conwy Castle - bridge view.jpg|thumb|The castle seen from the east, showing the east barbican, the Inner Ward and (l to r) the 1848 rail bridge, and the road bridges built in 1826 and 1958]]

The royal rooms were positioned on the first floor of a range of buildings that ran around the outside of the ward, facing onto a courtyard.<ref name=Ashbee2007P34>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|p=34}}.</ref> The four towers that protected the Inner Ward contained service facilities, with the Chapel Tower containing the private royal chapel.<ref name=Ashbee2007P34/> Each tower has an additional watchtower turret, probably intended both for security and to allow the prominent display of the royal flag.<ref>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|p=21}}.</ref> The arrangement was originally similar to that of the 13th century ''Gloriette'' at [[Corfe Castle]], and provided a combination of privacy for the king while providing extensive personal security.<ref>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2010|p=83}}; {{harvnb|Brears|2010|p=86}}.</ref> The two sets of apartments were later unified into a single set of rooms, including a great chamber, outer chamber and inner chamber.<ref>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|p=35}}.</ref>

On the east side of the Inner Ward is another barbican, enclosing the castle garden.<ref>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|p=43}}.</ref> This was overlooked by the royal apartments, and changed in style over the years: in the early 14th century there was a lawn, in the late 14th century [[vine]]s, in the 16th century [[crab-apple]] trees and a lawn and in the 17th century formal ornamental flowers.<ref>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|p=43}}; {{harvnb|Ashbee|2010|p=77}}.</ref> A postern gate originally led down to the river where a small dock was built, allowing key visitors to enter the castle in private and for the fortress to be resupplied by boat, although this gate is now concealed by the later bridges built on the site.<ref>{{harvnb|Ashbee|2007|pp=43–44}}.</ref>

[[File:Merlon comparison.jpg|thumb|Conwy merlons compared with San Giorio di Susa]]

The architecture of Conwy has close to links to that found in the [[County of Savoy]] in the same period.<ref name=ColdstreamPP39/> These include window styles, the type of crenellation used on the towers and positioning of [[putlog]] holes, and are usually ascribed to the influence of the Savoy architect Master James.<ref name=ColdstreamPP39>{{harvnb|Coldstream|2010|pp=39–40}}.</ref> Notably the three pinnacled merlons are a feature seen at the Savoyard Castello [[San Giorio di Susa]] which had been visited by Edward on his way back from crusade in 1273.

{{wide image|Conwy Castle 9.jpg|700px|Panorama, looking across the Outer Ward}}

==Constable of the Castle==
The official roles of the [[Constable]] were:
*[[Governor]] of the castle
*Governor of the fortified [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|borough]]
*Keeper of the castle [[jail]]
*[[Mayor]]

as well as extraordinary duties.<ref name=boroughs/>{{sfn|Lowe|1912|pages=190-192}}

During 1283 the castle was recorded to have a garrison of:
* 30 men ({{langx|la|Homines defensabiles}})
* 15 crossbowmen ({{langx|la|Ballistarii|links=no}})
* 1 superintendent at arms ({{langx|la|Attilliator|links=no}})
* 1 [[chaplain]] ({{langx|la|Capellanus|links=no}})
* 1 [[stonemason]] ({{langx|la|Cementarius|links=no}})
* 1 [[carpenter]] ({{langx|la|Carpentarius|links=no}})
* 1 [[artisan]] ({{langx|la|Faber|links=no}})
* and 10 others ({{langx|la|Residuum|links=no}}).

William De Sikun was the constable, with a yearly fee of £190 ({{Inflation|UK|190|1282|r=-5|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}).{{Inflation-fn|UK-GDP}}<ref name=boroughs>{{cite book|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo1.ark:/13960/t8v98qp6f&view=1up&seq=47&skin=2021| title=The Mediæval boroughs of Snowdonia; a study of the rise and development of the municipal element in the ancient principality of North Wales down to the Act of union of 1536.|publisher=[[Cornell University Press]]|first=Edward Arthur|last=Lewis|series=Series of literary and historical studies, no. 1| date=April 1912|pages=47, 122}}.</ref>

===List of Constables of Conwy Castle===
This is the list of the constables of Conwy (Conway) castle and their reigning [[Monarch]]s from the [[Principality of Wales]], the [[Kingdom of England]] and then the [[Commonwealth of England]] without hiatus until today's [[List of British monarchs|monarchy]] of [[Great Britain]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Rickard|first=John|title=The Castle Community: The Personnel of English and Welsh Castles, 1272–1422 |year=2002 |publisher=Boydell & Brewer|isbn=0-85115-913-3|pages=111–113}}</ref> 
{{Columns-list|colwidth=30em|[[King Edward I of England|King Edward I]]
*1284 : William de Sikun
*1292 : Thomas Brickdall
*1297 : William de Archoleghweth
*1300 : [[John de Havering]]
*1302 : John de Clykum
*1302 : Sir William de Sikun

[[King Edward II]]
*1311 : William Bagot
*1316 : William de Crealawe
*1319 : Hugh Goddard
*1320 : Henry de Wysshebury
*1326 : William de Ercralewe
*1326 : Roger de Mortuo ([[Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March|Roger Mortimer]] of [[Wigmore Castle]])

[[King Edward III]]
*1327 : Henry de Mortuo Mari (Henry Mortimer)
*1330 : [[Baron Strange of Blackmere|John Lestrange de Mudle]]
*1337 : Edward de St. John Le Neven
*1343 : Thomas D. Upton

[[Richard II of England|King Richard II]]
*1383 : [[John Beauchamp, 1st Baron Beauchamp of Kidderminster|John de Beauchamp]]

[[Henry IV of England|King Henry IV]]
*1399 : [[Henry Percy (Hotspur)|Sir Henry Percy]]
*1403 : John de Bolde (Sir [[John Chandos]]) 
*1405 : John de Masey

[[King Henry V]]
*1416 : [[Ralph Boteler, 1st Baron Sudeley|Ralph Boteler]]

[[King Edward IV]]
*1461 : Sir Henry Bolde
*1483 : [[Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham|Henry, Duke of Buckingham]]

[[Richard III of England|King Richard III]]
*1483 : Thomas Tunstall

[[King Henry VII]]
*1488 : [[Sir Richard Pole]]
*1505 : Edward Salisbury

[[King Henry VIII]]
*1512 : John Salisbury

[[King Edward VI]]
*1549 : Griffith John (Griffith ap John ap Robert)
*1551 : [[Francis Hastings, 2nd Earl of Huntingdon|Francis, Earl of Huntingdon]]
*1552-3 : Maurice Wiliams, John Vaughan, Robert Evans.

[[Mary I of England|Queen Mary I]]
*1553 : John Herle

[[Elizabeth I|Queen Elizabeth I]]
*1574 : Robert Berry of Ludlow
*1600 : Thomas Goodman

[[James VI and I|King James VI and I]]
*1605 : Sir Richard Herbert, Edward Herbert.

[[Charles I of England|King Charles]]
*1627 : [[Edward Conway, 2nd Viscount Conway]]
*1643 : [[John Williams (archbishop of York)]]
*1645 : [[John Owen (Royalist)]]

[[Commonwealth of England]]
*1649 : Colonel John Carter

[[Charles II of England|King Charles II]]
*1661 : [[Edward Herbert, 3rd Baron Herbert of Chirbury|Edward, Lord Herbert of Cherbury]]
*1679 : William, Lord Herbert of Cherbury

("A hiatus of nearly 100 years occurs here")

[[King George III]]
*1769 : John Parry
*1809 : Griffith ap Howel Vaughan of Rug

[[Queen Victoria]]
*1848 : Thomas Price Lloyd
}}

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="180px" heights="180px">
File:Conwy Castle, Conwy - geograph.org.uk - 3833058.jpg|
File:Fog on the Afon Conwy (geograph 6378260).jpg| 
File:Conway Castle watercolour 1.jpg| 
File:Conwy-Castle-0006.jpg|
File:Conwy Castle - geograph.org.uk - 2784147.jpg|
File:Conwy Castle - panoramio (10).jpg|
File:Conwy - Conwy Castle - 20190720135715.jpg|
File:Conwy Castle DSC02168c.jpg|
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Castles in Great Britain and Ireland]]
*[[List of castles in Wales]]
*[[List of Scheduled Monuments in Conwy]]

==Notes and references==
===Explanatory notes===
{{Reflist|group=nb}}

===Citations===
{{Reflist|2}}

===General bibliography===
*{{cite book|last=Ashbee|first=Jeremy|year=2007|title=Conwy Castle|publisher=Cadw|publication-place=Cardiff, UK|isbn=978-1-85760-259-3}}
*{{cite book|last=Ashbee|first=Jeremy|editor-last=Williams|editor-first=Diane|editor2-last=Kenyon|editor2-first=John|year=2010|title=The Impact of Edwardian Castles in Wales|chapter=The King's Accommodation at his Castles|publisher=Oxbow Books|publication-place=Oxford, UK|pages=72–84|isbn=978-1-84217-380-0}}
*{{cite book|last=Brears|first=Peter|editor-last=Williams|editor-first=Diane|editor2-last=Kenyon|editor2-first=John|year=2010|title=The Impact of Edwardian Castles in Wales|chapter=Food Supply and Preparation at the Edwardian Castles|publisher=Oxbow Books|publication-place=Oxford, UK|pages=85–98|isbn=978-1-84217-380-0}}
*{{cite book|last=Brown|first=R. Allen|year=1962|title=English Castles|publisher=Batsford|publication-place=London, UK|oclc=1392314}}
*{{cite book|last=Coldstream|first=Nicola|author-link=Nicola Coldstream|editor-last=Williams|editor-first=Diane|editor2-last=Kenyon|editor2-first=John|year=2010|title=The Impact of Edwardian Castles in Wales|chapter=James of St George|publisher=Oxbow Books|location=Oxford, UK|pages=37–45|isbn=978-1-84217-380-0}}
*{{cite book|last1=Creighton|first1=Oliver Hamilton|last2=Higham|first2=Robert|year=2005|title=Medieval Town Walls: An Archaeology and Social History of Urban Defence|publisher=Tempus|location=Stroud, UK|isbn=978-0-7524-1445-4}}
*{{cite book|last=Given-Wilson|first=Chris|author-link=Chris Given-Wilson|year=1996|title=The English Nobility in the Late Middle Ages|publisher=Routledge|publication-place=London, UK|isbn=978-0-203-44126-8}}
*{{cite book|last=Lepage|first=Jean-Denis G. G.|year=2012|title=British Fortifications Through the Reign of Richard III: an Illustrated History|publisher=McFarland|publication-place=Jefferson, NC, US|isbn=978-0-7864-5918-6
}}
*{{cite book|last=Lott|first=Graham|editor-last=Williams|editor-first=Diane|editor2-last=Kenyon|editor2-first=John|year=2010|title=The Impact of Edwardian Castles in Wales|chapter=The Building Stones of the Edwardian Castles|publisher=Oxbow Books|publication-place=Oxford, UK|pages=114–120|isbn=978-1-84217-380-0}}
*{{cite book|title=The Heart of Northern Wales: As it was and as it Is, Being an Account of the Pre-historical and Historical Remains of Aberconway and the Neighbourhood|volume=1|first=Walter Bezant|last=Lowe|year=1912|pages=187–328}}{{google books|id=93I_AQAAMAAJ&rdid|title=The heart of North Wales}}
*{{cite book|last=Pounds|first=Norman John Greville|author-link=Norman Pounds|year=1994|title=The Medieval Castle in England and Wales: A Social and Political History|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=Cambridge, UK|isbn=978-0-521-45828-3}}
*{{cite book|last=Pugin|first=Augustus|author-link=Augustus Pugin|title=Examples of Gothic Architecture Selected From Various Ancient Edifices in England|url=https://archive.org/details/examplesgothicar01pugiuoft|oclc=31592053|year=1895|publisher=J. Grant|location=Edinburgh, UK}}
*{{cite book|last=Taylor|first=Arnold|author-link=A. J. Taylor|title=Caernarfon Castle and Town Walls|isbn=978-1-85760-209-8|year=2008|publisher=Cadw|location=Cardiff, UK}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Conwy Castle}}
*[http://cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/conwy-castle  Cadw's official page on Conwy Castle] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414121048/https://cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/conwy-castle|date=14 April 2021}}
*Conwy Castle is depicted on [https://starbucks-mugs.com/mug/you-are-here-wales/ the mug] from Starbucks' You Are Here series

{{Conwy Valley}}
{{Edwardian castles in Wales}}
{{World Heritage Sites in the United Kingdom}}
{{Archaeology of Wales}}
{{Portal bar|United Kingdom|Wales|History}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Conwy]]
[[Category:Castles in Conwy County Borough]]
[[Category:Grade I listed buildings in Conwy County Borough]]
[[Category:Grade I listed castles in Wales]]
[[Category:Historic house museums in Wales]]
[[Category:Museums in Conwy County Borough]]
[[Category:Scheduled monuments in Wales]]
[[Category:World Heritage Sites in Wales]]
[[Category:Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd]]