On the 10th & 11th July 2006 members form Sir John Owens regiment were invited by CADW to perform a living history within Conwy Castle to mark the 360th Anniversary of the siege of the town and castle.
The weekend consisted of pike and musket drills throughout the day, and a march through the town to the dock. A proclamation was declared on the dockside by Captain Paul Le Pinnet followed by a volley fire, in honour of the fallen soldiers and citizens during the siege of Conwy.
The 13th Century castle saw various episodes over the years but the only siege it was involved in was during the English Civil war.
During the original siege Major General Mytton on his march North through the Conwy valley laid siege to the town in August 1646 with approximately 4,000 parliamentarian soldiers. On Sunday 9th August a Captain Simkies with a select division of men attacked the town walls with scaling ladders and granadoes at the North wall, meanwhile during Captain Simkies feint Mytton himself directed 3 specially selected companies of foot to attack the South walls where they were successful even though the ladders they had prepared were only 10 yards high and short by 1 1/2 yards
Once in the town some Irish soldiers unfortunate enough to be locked out of the castle were tied back to back and "cast overboard and sent by water to their own country" by Mytton’s troops, this was probably near where the dock area is today.
The Royalist Colonel Owen was then confined to the defending the castle with the garrison which managed to retire to the castle after the quick and brutal attack. In preparation the castle was well stocked with “meat, beere and corn”
The castle not only included the garrisoned soldiers but also loyal "clergymen and gentlewomen" who had sought refuge in the castle when the attack began.
After 3 months Colonel Owen came to an agreed treaty with Mytton in which the defenders were allowed to give up the castle and march from the castle with all of Owen’s horse and soldiers, drums beating, colours flying and lighted match at both ends and musket ball's in their mouths. They were suppose to retire to their homes but continued to carry on fighting at various episodes specifically in North Wales.
The surrender of the castle was marking the end of the civil war in North Wales King Charles was under arrest in Newcastle after surrendering to the Scot’s and last royal army of the 1st civil war had surrended at Stow-on-the-Wold
After the war the Conwy castle fell into irreversible repair, but still stands arguably as the greatest and impressive castle in North Wales.
© Copyright 1998-2007 Sir John Owens Regiment of Foote.
