Conwy Castle and the town walls were built,
on the instruction of Edward I of England, between 1283 and 1289, as part of
his conquest of the principality of Wales. Conwy was the original site of
Aberconwy Abbey, founded by Llywelyn the Great. Edward and his troops took over
the abbey site and moved the monks down the Conwy valley to a new site at
Maenan, establishing Maenan Abbey. The parish church still retains some parts
of the original abbey church in the east and west walls. English settlers were
given incentives to move to the walled garrison town, which for decades the
Welsh were forbidden
