The Ring of Iron

The imposing fortress which greets people upon entry to Conwy has played a prominent role in Welsh history since it was built, almost 800 years ago.

Conwy Castle was constructed upon the orders of the King of England, Edward I, following his conquest of North Wales. It formed an integral part of his ‘Ring of Iron’, a collection of seventeen castles designed to bolster and preserve English authority at the expense of the Welsh.

Of these, the castles in Conwy, Caernarfon, Beaumaris and Harlech were intended to surround Snowdonia, a key battleground and the heartland of North Wales. The towers at Conwy, in particular, enabled expansive views of the surrounding area, from the mountains of Snowdonia, long jagged coastlines, and the Conwy valley.