#citywalk #conwy #walkingtour
Conwy, traditionally known in English as Conway, is a walled coastal market town in Conwy County Borough, North Wales. It faces the smaller town of Deganwy across the River Conwy.
Llywelyn ap Iorwerth (or Llywelyn the Great, 1173-1240) founded an abbey at Conwy, where he was later buried. However, the town of Conwy was established by the English king Edward I. After subduing Wales, Edward decided to build a chain of castles in the region to hold down the Welsh.
In 1283, Edward visited Conwy and decided to construct both a castle and a new town there.
Conwy Castle, designed by architect James of St George, took 4 years to build (from 1283 to 1287) and required 15,000 men. The castle boasted 8 towers and played a strategic role in Welsh history.
Walls were erected around the new town, standing 30 feet high and several feet thick. These walls were strengthened by 21 towers and featured 3 gates.
The town also had an Abbey Church, which Edward retained.
Plas Mawr, a fine townhouse, was constructed in 1576.
Conwy is home to Britain’s smallest house, measuring only 10 feet high with a frontage of 6 feet.
Aberconwy, one of the oldest houses in Wales, stands at the junction of High Street and Castle Street.
The quay was formed in 1833, serving fishing and exporting goods.
Until the 19th century, there was no bridge to Conwy, and travelers relied on a ferry to cross the River Conwy. In 1826, a suspension bridge designed by Thomas Telford was opened.
In 1849, Robert Stephenson built a railway bridge over the river.
A new road bridge was constructed in 1958.
The innovative Conwy Road Tunnel, completed in 1986-1991, was the UK’s first immersed tube tunnel. It spans 710 meters.
Today, Conwy remains a charming little town, with its well-preserved medieval walls, historic buildings, and picturesque setting along the River Conwy. The population of Conwy stands at approximately 3,900.
6 окт 2024
