CASTLE building was begun in North Wales by the Normans in the 11th century, but it wasn't until the 13th century that castles really started to make their mark on the North Wales landscape. This century saw the native Welsh rulers engaging in a bitter power struggle with the English crown, which eventually resulted in the conquest of Wales by Edward I in 1282-83. The castle was a vital weapon in the English conquest and Welsh resistance and between 1277 and 1300, 14 new castles were built in the region. The new castles built by Edward I were costly state-of-the-art military fortresses constructed using the latest designs and techniques from France and the Middle East.
 Caernarfon Castle
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As well as their military role, these castles and their surrounding towns formed pockets of English settlement and administration, with Caernarfon becoming the centre of Edwardian government in North Wales. Towards the end of the 15th century Wales entered into a more peaceful era of cooperation with the English crown and many of those castles which had survived the violence of the past two centuries gradually fell into disrepair. The one notable exception to this was Chirk Castle, which has been continuously occupied for almost 700 years.
 During the civil war of 1642-46, a number of castles including Conwy (right) and Beaumaris, were again garrisoned by the crown. Yet after a brief spell of military action, they were left to ruin once more. The 19th century saw a revival in castle building and mediaeval styles of architecture. Chirk Castle, by now a mixture of many architectural styles, saw further development, with additions made to its east range by the architect AW Pugin, and at Ruthin a new castellated mansion was built in the neo-gothic style. New castles were to appear at Penrhyn (Bangor), Bryn Bras (Llanrug) and Gwrych (Abergele). The castles of this era were built either by wealthy landowners or by the powerful new entrepreneurs who had made their fortunes from the Industrial Revolution. | 
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