Conwy

Conwy

Conwy is a small sea-side town in North Wales. It is one of the best medieval towns I have ever seen. The town is nestled between the water on one side and high hills on the other, so it never really outgrew its original boundries. As a result, the walls never got in the way of any new building projects and were never robbed out as a convenient source of cut stone.

The castle is the focal point of the town, but the surroundings are dramatic enough that it does not dominate. The estuary of the river Conwy was bridged in the 19th century in a faux-medieval style.

Across from the docks was a structure known as the Smallest House in Britain. It's the red one in the middle. Sarah went in -- she said it was, indeed, small. The northern end of the town wall is at the back.

Down by the docks was a giant anchor. I don't think it has any particular purpose anymore.

Besides the castle, Conwy has several very well preserved houses. Plas Mawr is one of the best Elizabethan houses in the country. This is a view of the inner courtyard.

This door leads out to the inner courtyard of Plas Mawr. The room is called the brewery -- these households must have been very self-sufficient.

Another view of the inner courtyard. There were several school groups at the site while we were there. One of them was speaking Welsh.

Sarah inspects one of the small rooms off the main bedroom. The house was filled with elaborate plasterwork.

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