Conwy & Around in 50 Buildings

Explores the rich and fascinating history of Conwy and around through an examination of some of its greatest architectural treasures.

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Conwy and its district has a history stretching back to Neolithic times. However, the area comes into its own from around AD 1200, the period of Welsh Princes and increased interest from England. This resulted in the clash of cultures typified by Conwy Castle and town walls – one of the finest surviving medieval fortifications in Britain, built by Edward I on the site of Aberconwy Monastery. By the mid-nineteenth century, Conwy’s close neighbour Llandudno began its development as a prime tourist resort with hotels, bathing houses, a pier, theatres and an art gallery, among other attractions. Following the First World War, we find buildings from the Arts and Crafts Movement and in the art deco style. The Second World War brought to the area a cold food store and an artillery school set in a dramatic location on the Great Orme. In more recent times artisan ice cream has been available on Conwy Quay, a new theatre has adorned Llandudno’s promenade, and a new water sports development has been added to Colwyn Bay’s seafront. Thus, the long history of Conwy and its district can be delightfully demonstrated through an examination of selected buildings, many of them truly iconic.