CONWY

 Built by Edward I as he established his power over the Welsh, it became his campaign headquarters, and in 1284, the Statute of Rhuddlan placed the principality under English rule and law.

However, The unique thing about Conwy, is not so much the castle, although that is impressive to say the least, as the three parallel bridges under its walls. The middle bridge, the suspension one, is Thomas Telford's iconic bridge linking Conwy to Llandudno. The bridge was built in 1826, and at the time it was one of the few suspension bridges in the world to carry road traffic. It replaced a long-established ferry across the river. 

 The Telford bridge runs parallel to a later wrought-iron railroad bridge built by Robert Stephenson. The bridge is exceedingly narrow, measuring only 2.5 metres across. The cables supporting the south end of the bridge are anchored into the rock on which the castle stands, and some parts of the castle had to be demolished to allow the cables to be anchored. The bridge is no longer open to road traffic, so visitors on foot have it all to themselves 

Conwy along with Harlech is probably the most impressive of all the Welsh castles. Both were designed by Edward I's master castle builder James of St. George, and while Harlech has a more storied past, Conwy's eight massive towers and high curtain wall are more impressive than those at Harlech.

Construction of Conwy began in 1283. The castle was an important part of King Edward I's plan of surrounding Wales in "an iron ring of castles" to subdue the rebellious population. The highly defensible wall Edward built around the town was intended to protect the English colony planted at Conwy. The native Welsh population were violently opposed to English occupation of their homeland.

It was during his second campaign in Wales that King Edward gained control of the Conwy valley in March 1283. He began work on the new fortress almost immediately, the natural advantages of the site being so far superior to those of the older castle at Deganwy on the opposite side of the estuary. Moreover, plans were laid for an accompanying garrison town, itself to be defended by a complete circuit of walls and towers. Castle and town walls were all built in a frenzied period of activity between 1283-87, a tremendous achievement in which up to 1,500 craftsmen and labourers were involved during peak periods.

King Edward was actually besieged at Conwy during the rebellion of Madog ap Llywelyn in 1295. Though food ran low, the walls stood firm. Some alterations were carried out under Edward, the Black Prince in the 14th century. In 1403 the castle fell by trickery to the forces of Owain Glyndwr, was held by his men and later ransomed back to the English for some much-needed funds.) Conwy saw some action in the Civil War, but afterwards was left to the elements.