Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Tower on Tower Hill
Abergele, Conwy, Wales
A Grade II listed building in Abergele, Conwy, designated on 27 October 1950.
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Gardens, Parks and Urban Spaces
- Date of designation
- 27 October 1950
- Locality
- Abergele
- Town
- Abergele
- Community
- Abergele
- Unitary authority
- Conwy
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 53.27047, -3.57233
- Cadw reference
- 18658
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesNational Library of ScotlandDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesLlyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1795 map "To Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn Bart ... the map of the six counties of North Wales is most humbly inscribed by his obedient humble servant" (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1795 · To Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn Bart ... the map of the six counties of North Wales is most… (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales)
- 1883 · Watershed map England, Wales 3. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1898 · 95 Rhyl (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1901 · Sheet 9 and 10. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1963 · Map No. 36 - Local Government Commission for Wales : [Definitive maps showing proposed… (National Library of Scotland)
Cadw's description
Location
The tower stands on the highest point of the hill, commanding extensive views of the Clwydian Range, the Lancashire coast, and to the W, Snowdonia.
History
The tower, sometimes called the Eleanor Tower, was probably built by Bamford Hesketh as part of the extensive medievalising works at Gwrych, although woodland has now interrupted the direct view from the castle. It may be a rebuild of an earlier tower, one of the series of watch towers built along the N Welsh coast.
Exterior
Built of local Carboniferous limestone. A circular tower of walls approximately 1.3m thick, rising from a low battered plinth to approximately 10m, being 3m in diameter and of 2 storeys. Door openings on the N and S, with segmental heads. An offset in the wall carried the upper floor, now missing, which has one fireplace each side, and two square window openings, one each side of each fireplace. Parapet with crenels.
Reason for designation
Included as probably part of the picturesque landscape associated with the important medieval revival castle of Gwrych.
Nearby in the register
- Hendre-uchafDomesticunder 1 mi
- Pen-yr-AlltDomesticunder 1 mi
- Former Brewhouse at Pen-yr-AlltAgriculture and Subsistenceunder 1 mi
- L-shaped Agricultural Range at Pen-yr-AlltAgriculture and Subsistenceunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.