A Trip To Conwy Castle
It all started with the alarm ringing in my ear on a cold, wet and windy morning. As I lay in bed wondering what to do, looking out towards the marina, all I could see was Conwy Castle in the distance. I decided to grab my camera and head off to explore.
On approaching the castle, the disabled access looked hard as there were many narrow steps and no lift access for wheel chairs or buggies. We purchased tickets and headed off to explore the 12th century castle. We realised how important the location was for the castle to be situated. It’s situated at the mouth of Conwy overlooking the river. The castle was constructed in 1287 was the most expensive that King Edward the 1st had built.
The castle was designed to have an outer and inner ward. Each ward was protected by four towers more than 70 feet high and 30 feet in diameter and consisting of several floors. The inner ward towers also had the additional defence of archers' turrets.
On 12 August 1399, the unpopular king Richard II made his way to Conwy Castle where he met the Earl of Northumberland for negotiations to give up his crown. A week later he surrendered to Henry Bolingbroke at Flint Castle promising to abdicate if his life was spared. Richard II was briefly imprisoned in the Tower of London, and then transferred to Pontefract Castle, where he died in February 1400.
In 1403, Welsh forces led by Rhys ap Tudur and his brother Gwilym, sons of Tudur ap Gronw, and the cousins of Owain Glyndwr, captured the castle and its English garrison. The fortress and the soldiers were later ransomed back to Henry IV. Tudur ap Gronw was the forefather of Henry Tudor. During the War of the Roses, Conwy was taken by William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke under orders from Edward IV in 1461.
But by the early 17th century, the once great Royal Castle had become dilapidated and was largely unused. However at the outbreak of the English Civil War Conwy was again garrisoned for the King. It was captured after a three-month siege by the Parliamentary army in 1646. It was slighted and left as an empty shell.
Later the restored Charles II granted Conwy Castle to Edward Conway, 3rd Viscount Conway. In 1665 the remaining timber, iron and lead was removed from the castle by William Milward on behalf of the peer and sold.
Now the National Trust are restoring the castle to its previous glory and the whole castle is open to the public for viewing. It’s fun for all the family, with many exciting views and many routes to take to different towers and floors. You feel history come to life and experience what its like to have lived in the castle back in the 12th century. It is worth it to buy a guide book, they cost £3.50 from the shop and it is filled with plenty of history from the castle and the walls surrounding Conwy. Admission prices are as follows:-
Admission Charge:- Adults £4.80, Reduced rate £4.30.
Family Ticket:- £13.90 - admits 2 adults and up to 3 children under 16 years.
