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Conwy facts for kids

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Conwy
Conwy walled town.jpg
A view of the original walled town, viewed from one of the towers of Conwy town walls.
Population 14,723 (2011 census)
OS grid reference SH775775
Principal area
  • Conwy
Ceremonial county
Country Wales
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town CONWY
Postcode district LL31, LL32
Dialling code 01492
Police North Wales
Fire North Wales
Ambulance Welsh
EU Parliament Wales
UK Parliament
  • Aberconwy
List of places
UK
Wales
Conwy

Conwy, sometimes called Conway in English, is a cool walled town right on the coast in North Wales. It's located in the Conwy County Borough. Imagine a town with old stone walls all around it! Conwy sits across the River Conwy from a smaller town called Deganwy.

The town's name comes from old Welsh words. "Cyn" means "chief" and "gwy" means "water." So, it's like "chief water" or "main water." The river itself was originally called Cynwy too.

The entire area, including nearby towns like Llandudno Junction and Deganwy, has about 14,723 people. The town of Conwy itself has a population of 4,065.

Conwy is a very popular place for tourists to visit. People love to see its amazing castle, which was built a long time ago between 1283 and 1289. The town also has a nice beach and its famous town walls.

Welcome to Conwy!

Conwy is a historic town in North Wales. It's famous for its medieval castle and impressive town walls. These structures were built over 700 years ago! The town is a great place to explore history and enjoy beautiful coastal views.

Conwy Castle: A Mighty Fortress

Conwy Castle
Conwy Castle

Conwy Castle is one of the most famous castles in Wales. It was built by King Edward I of England. He started building it in 1283 and finished it in 1289. The castle was part of a plan to control Wales.

The castle has eight huge towers and two barbicans (fortified gateways). It was designed to be very strong and hard to attack. You can still walk along parts of the castle walls today. From the top, you get amazing views of the town and the river.

The Great Town Walls

Conwywalls
Conwy town walls

What makes Conwy special are its complete town walls. These walls stretch for about 1.3 kilometers (0.8 miles) around the old town. They have 21 towers and three gateways. The walls were built at the same time as the castle.

The walls were designed to protect the town from invaders. They are one of the best examples of medieval town walls in Europe. You can walk along a large section of these walls. It's like stepping back in time!

Bridges of Conwy

Conwy is also known for its three famous bridges. They cross the River Conwy.

  • The oldest is a suspension bridge built by Thomas Telford in 1826. It was designed to match the castle.
  • Next is a railway bridge, built by Robert Stephenson in 1848. It was one of the first tubular bridges ever made.
  • The newest bridge is a modern road bridge, opened in 1958. It carries the main road traffic today.

These bridges show how engineering has changed over the centuries. They are all important parts of Conwy's history.

Fun Facts About Conwy

The Smallest House in Great Britain
The smallest house in Britain.

Conwy is home to some unique attractions. One of them is "The Smallest House in Great Britain." It's a tiny red house on the quay (waterfront). It's only 3.05 meters (10 feet) high and 1.83 meters (6 feet) wide! People can go inside and see how small it really is.

Another interesting place is Plas Mawr. This is an Elizabethan townhouse built in the 16th century. It's a beautiful example of a wealthy merchant's home from that period. You can explore its many rooms and see its detailed plasterwork.

Conwy's harbour is also a busy place. You can see many boats there. It's a great spot to watch the world go by.

Gallery

Images for kids

  • (Castle and suspension bridge, Conway (i.e. Conwy), Wales) (LOC) (3752435594)

    "Castle and suspension bridge", ca. 1890 – 1900.

  • Conwy walled town

    A view of the original walled town, from one of the towers of Conwy town walls.

  • Plas Mawr (original)

    Plas Mawr

  • The Smallest House in Great Britain

    The smallest house in Britain.

  • Conwy Guildhall, Castle Square - geograph.org.uk - 2224123

    Conwy Guildhall

  • Conway Castle from the e(ast) 1795

    Conwy castle before the bridge was built, 1795

  • Conway Town and Castle.(Plan)

    Conway Town and Castle, 1800

  • Conway Castle - from the wood opposite

    'Conway Castle: from the wood opposite', 1823

  • Conway Castle N. Wales

    Conwy Castle, 1838

  • Conway Bridge (Carnarvonshire, North Wales)

    Conway Bridge and Castle ca 1840

  • Conway Bridge and Castle, North Wales

    The river bank at Conwy with the castle and bridge in the background ca 1850

  • The Town Of Conway - Its Church, Plas Mawr, Wall, Tower, &c, as seen from the battlement of the castle

    Conway c.1850

  • Conway Bridge & Castle

    'Conway Bridge & Castle' ca 1850

  • Conwymap1947

    Map of Conwy from 1947

  • Conwy Castle - bridge view

    Conwy Castle - bridge view 2007

  • Conwy bridges

    Conwy bridges in 2012

  • Mock Tudor in Conwy

    Mock Tudor in Conwy- taken on January 14 2022

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