IPublic · listed 1983Caernarfon CastlePhoto: Llywelyn2000 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Caernarfon Castle · Photo: Llywelyn2000 · CC BY-SA 4.0A+History Grade
History of Caernarfon · Cadw
Caernarfon is home to a World Heritage Site: Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd
30% of Caernarfon’s homes were built before 1919. Cadw lists 250 buildings inside Caernarfon’s built-up area, 254 for every 10,000 residents. It also has 4 scheduled monuments. We have photos of 21 of its listed buildings and 8 old views of the town. Caernarfon grades A+ for history: #4 of 13 in Gwynedd.
Listed buildings
250
254 per 10,000 residents
Grade I
7
exceptional interest
Grade II*
12
more than special interest
Scheduled monuments
4
1 registered park or garden
Homes built before 1919
30%
typical UK town 15%
In pictures
Caernarfon in 31 photos and old views
Nearly every Grade I and II* building, photographed, and the town before 1950. Tap a photo to step through them full screen.
County Court (former County Hall)Grade I listed
Royal Welsh Yacht Club (also known as Porth yr Aur)Grade I listed
Former warehouse on Balaclava RoadGrade II listed
Drawbridge on S side of Victoria DockGrade II listed
The Morgan Lloyd Public HouseGrade II listed+26See all photosPhotos from Wikimedia Commons and Geograph, copied to our own server, each credited to its photographer with its licence; names open the building’s page or its official list entry.
Through time
Caernarfon from 1730 to 1920
An old map and 8 old photos and postcards, in date order. All public domain, made before 1950.
c. 1730
c. 1840
c. 1846
c. 1854
1860
c. 1890
c. 1890
c. 1890
1920Public domain, from Wikimedia Commons, copied to our own server. Each credit opens the image’s page with its full description and history.
The map
Where Caernarfon’s history is
Every Grade I and II* building, monument and historic park, over the age of each neighbourhood’s homes.
Grade IGrade II*Scheduled monumentPark or garden400 m from Caernarfon Castle
Homes built before 1919, by neighbourhoodunder 10%10–25%25–50%50%+
6 of 7Grade I buildings stand within 400 m of Caernarfon Castle, a five-minute walk. So do 207 of the 250 listed buildings.
1 of 5neighbourhoods have mostly pre-1919 homes; in the oldest, 63% were built before 1919.
Hover a dot for its name; tap one with a photo to open it.
250 listed buildings by grade
7 Grade I12 Grade II*231 Grade II
Cadw lists buildings of special architectural or historic interest in three grades: Grade I for buildings of exceptional interest, Grade II* for particularly important buildings of more than special interest, and Grade II for buildings of special interest. Listing protects the whole building, inside and out.
Every entry on Cadw’s register of listed buildings whose point lies inside the ONS 2022 built-up-area boundary. One list entry can cover a terrace or a group of buildings. Neighbourhood dots: the population-weighted centre of each Census 2021 output area, coloured by its neighbourhood’s (LSOA’s) share of homes built before 1919 (Valuation Office Agency, March 2025).
Grade I
The 7 Grade I listed buildings in Caernarfon
Buildings of exceptional interest, about 1.6% of all listed buildings; 6 of these stand within 400 m of Caernarfon Castle. Every one is photographed. Each opens its own page, with the official list entry.
IPublic · listed 1953County Court (former County Hall)Photo: Tilman2007 · CC BY-SA 4.0
IHouse · listed 1953Royal Welsh Yacht ClubOn the list as Royal Welsh Yacht Club (also known as Porth yr Aur)Photo: Eric Jones · CC BY-SA 2.0
IPublic · listed 1983Caernarfon Town WallsOn the list as Caernarfon Town WallPhoto: Philip Halling · CC BY-SA 2.0
IChurch · listed 1953Church of St MaryPhoto: Llywelyn2000 · CC BY-SA 4.0
IChurch · listed 1953St Peblig's Church, LlanbebligOn the list as Church of St PebligPhoto: National Library of Wales · CC0
IPublic · listed 1953Police Station, including forecourt railings and gate piersPhoto: Meirion · CC BY-SA 2.0
Grade II*
The 12 Grade II* listed buildings in Caernarfon
Particularly important buildings of more than special interest. 11 are photographed.
II*House · listed 1953Caernarfon Harbour Trust OfficesPhoto: Simon Burchell · CC BY-SA 4.0
II*Church · listed 1983Pen-Dref Welsh Independent ChapelOn the list as Capel PendrefPhoto: Tilman2007 · CC BY-SA 4.0
II*House · listed 1953Castle HousePhoto: Andrew Woodvine · CC BY-SA 2.0
II*Inns & shops · listed 1983Days Gone By AntiquesPhoto: Tilman2007 · CC BY-SA 4.0
II*Public · listed 1983East Gate, incorporating 3 Hole-in-the-Wall StreetPhoto: Tilman2007 · CC BY-SA 4.0
II*House · listed 1953Llys LlywelynOn the list as Llys LlewelynPhoto: Tilman2007 · CC BY-SA 4.0
II*Inns & shops · listed 1953Palace VaultsPhoto: Tilman2007 · CC BY-SA 4.0
II*House · listed 1953Tanybont Arch, including former lock-up to SEPhoto: Ihaveseenthings · CC BY-SA 4.0
II*House · listed 1968Tŷ SidanOn the list as Ty SidanPhoto: Tilman2007 · CC BY-SA 4.0
II*Inns & shops · listed 200222 Bangor StreetPhoto: Tilman2007 · CC BY-SA 4.0
II*Inns & shops · listed 195338-40 High StreetPhoto: Tilman2007 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Public · listed 2002Caernarfon Royal Town Council Offices, including 10 Bangor Street
Historic streets
including forecourt railings has the most listed buildings
Streets by the listed entries with an address on them. One entry can be a whole terrace, so long rows count once.
including forecourt railings18 listed
High Street14 listed · 1 II*
Bridge Street11 listed
Bangor Street9 listed · 1 II*
Castle Street9 listed
Market Street9 listed
Castle Square6 listed
Eastgate Street6 listed
Holywell Terrace6 listed
Pool Street5 listed
Segontium Terrace5 listed
Castle Ditch4 listed
Of the 250 entries, 120 are named by a street address; the rest are named buildings such as churches, halls and bridges.
What’s protected
The largest group of Caernarfon’s listed buildings is homes
Every listed building sorted by what its list name says it is.
Houses, terraces & villas120
Inns, shops & warehouses93
Public & civic buildings14
Churches, chapels & priories12
Memorials, crosses & tombs5
Walls, gates & bridges4
Street furniture2
120 entries (48%) are houses, terraces and villas. 12 are churches, chapels and priories, including 2 of the 7 Grade I buildings.
Buildings are sorted by Cadw’s broad class for each building, else by words in its name; an entry named only by its address counts as a house.
Grade II
231 Grade II listed buildings
Most listed buildings are in this grade, which covers buildings of special interest. Open any building to read its official list entry.
The first 150 of 231 Grade II listed buildings, A to Z
(including boundary wall to rear yard.)Ael y BrynArfon OceaneeringAssembly shop at former Union IronworksBar LlewelynBlack Boy InnBoer War MemorialBoundary wall in front of 5 Castle StreetBoundary wall, railings and gate to Hendre GaerogBron EifionBron HendreBron y GaerBroncerisBryn Eisteddfod, incorporating Bryn MenaiBryn HelenBryn HelygCae LlenorCae SynamonCaer Mena Including Forecourt RailingsCaernarfon Royal Town Conservative ClubCaernarfon War MemorialCaernarfon Youth and Community CentreCaffi MaesCapel CaersalemCapel Engedi, including forecourt gates and railingsCapel Salem, including forecourt gates and railingsCastle ChambersCastle Gift ShopCastle Hotel, including railings & gateCastle PharmacyCastle RestaurantCastle Square Presbyterian Church of Wales, including forecourt walls and railingsCeltic Royal HotelChurch HallChurch HouseCilgwynCoed y GlynCofeb Llywelyn at Pencadlys GwyneddCourtenay's BistroCraft Cymru, including 17 Castle StreetCrane at Victoria DockDrawbridge on S side of Victoria DockEbenezer Methodist ChurchEducation Offices at Pencadlys GwyneddFormer Carnarvon Grammar and Collegiate School, including gate, gate pier, and basement stepsFormer Christchurch (now Yr Hwylfan)Former warehouse at Victoria DockFormer warehouse on Balaclava RoadFrondegGarreg WenGates and gate piers at entrance to Uxbridge SquareGates, gate piers & railings to forecourt of Capel CaersalemGates, gate piers and railings at the NW entrance to the church of St PebligGates, gate piers and railings to forecourt of Ebenezer Methodist ChurchGwellynHSBC Bank, including forecourt balustradeHafod AurHaulfreHendre AurHendre GaerogHonour RestaurantHouse at rear of Plas Porth yr Aur (2 High Street)IsfrynLloyds TSB Bank, including Lloyds Bank ChambersLlwyn HelenMacsen RestaurantMaes Glas, including railings & gateMantell GwyneddMarbrynMelin Brynkir Woollen MillNatWest Bank, including railings to basement stepsOffice and showroom of former Union IronworksOriel ArfonOriel PendeitshPalace CafeParadox Nightclub (former Bonded Warehouse)Pencadlys GwyneddPlas BowmanPlas Ty CochPost OfficePromenade Wall, including steps and piersRevetment to terrace on W side of Castle SquareRhydalun HouseRichards NewsagentsRoberts & Owen JewellersSarn HelenSchoolmaster's house at former British SchoolSiop y PlasSouth portal of former railway tunnel beneath Castle SquareStatue of David Lloyd GeorgeStatue of Sir Hugh OwenSwyddfa'r CyngorTafarn y WerinTanycoedTelephone Call-box outside The Crown public houseThe Albert InnThe Anchorage (also known as Ynys Tudur)The Anglesey Hotel Including Courtyard Wall to RearThe BarracksThe CarltonThe Eagles HotelThe FountainThe Morgan Lloyd Public HouseThe Old MarketTower HouseTunnel beneath Bangor Road at Plas Ty CochTy GlyndwrVictoria Dock wallsVictoria HouseWindmill Florists (incorporating 2 Hole-in-the-Wall Street)Yr Aelwyd1 Tithebarn Street10 Eastgate Street10 Holywell Terrace10 Palace Street10-12 Bank Quay10-12 Castle Street11 Castle Ditch11 Castle Street11 Market Street, including railings and steps11 Segontium Terrace, including forecourt railings11-13 High Street11-15 Bridge Street12 Castle Square12 Eastgate Street12 Holywell Terrace12 Segontium Terrace, including forecourt railings13 Bangor Street13 Castle Square13 Castle Street13 Market Street13 Segontium Terrace, including forecourt railings14 Castle Square14 Eastgate Street14 High Street14 Market Street14 Segontium Terrace, including forecourt railings15 Castle Street15 Segontium Terrace, including forecourt railings15-17 Bangor Street16 Bangor Street16 Market Street16 Segontium Terrace, including forecourt railings16a Palace Street17 Bridge Street17 Segontium Terrace, including forecourt railings18 Bangor Street18 Market Street18 Palace Street18 Segontium Terrace, including forecourt railings
Conservation areas
1 conservation area covers 3.8% of Caernarfon
Areas the council protects as a whole: demolition and changes to how buildings look need consent, and trees are protected.
Caernarfon 196812 ha
12 hain conservation areas, of 309 ha inside the built-up area.
181 of the 250 listed buildings stand in one.
Cadw’s conservation areas via DataMapWales. Hectares are the part of each area inside the built-up area.
How the list grew
97 of Caernarfon’s 250 listed buildings were added in 1983
The year each building now on the list was first listed.
1983 · 972002 · 751968 · 20
19501960197019801990200020102020
The first 19 entries were listed in 1953, 5 of the 7 Grade I buildings among them. 97 came in 1983. Only 3 have been added in the last 15 years.
Monuments & landscapes
Monuments, parks and gardens
Designations that overlap the town by a tenth of their area or half a hectare.
World Heritage
| Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in GwyneddUNESCO World Heritage Site, partly or wholly inside the town |
4 scheduled monuments
Nationally important archaeological sites and monuments, protected by law; work on them needs consent from the Welsh Government (Cadw).
Caernarfon Town WallsMedieval; Town Wall
Castell CaernarfonMedieval; Castle
RomanLower Roman FortRoman; Fort
RomanSegontium Roman FortRoman; Fort
1 registered park or garden
Morfa Common ParkGrade II · Small public park designed around artificial lake; tree and shrub plantings on sloping and level grassy areas
History Grade
Caernarfon grades A+ for history
Protected heritage and the age of the town’s homes, against all UK towns.
Protected heritage, for its size and in all (285 points, 290 per 10,000 residents)More than 94% of UK towns
Homes built before 1919 (30%)More than 84% of UK towns
Two measures, each ranked against every UK town of 1,000 or more, with protected heritage counting twice as much as the age of homes. Protected heritage counts each listed building by its grade (Grade I three points, II* two, II one), each scheduled monument and battlefield two, and each registered park or garden by its grade; it is ranked both per 10,000 residents and as a total, so a village with one fine church doesn’t outrank a historic city. The second measure is the share of homes built before 1919, from the Valuation Office Agency’s council tax records. History is a character grade: it describes the town and isn’t part of the overall grade.
Homes by age
30% of Caernarfon’s homes were built before 1919
Every home by when it was built, from council tax records, against England & Wales (the dark tick).
29%
Before 1900
1.3%
1900–18
12%
1919–29
6.9%
1930s
8.9%
1945–54
6%
1955–64
5.2%
1965–72
13%
1973–82
3.8%
1983–92
5%
1993–99
3.4%
2000–08
0.4%
2009–15
4.6%
2016–25
CaernarfonEngland & Wales
29% of homes are Victorian or older, against 16% across England and Wales. The busiest period since was 1973–82, which added 13% of today’s homes.
Valuation Office Agency, council tax stock of properties by build period, 31 March 2025, for the neighbourhoods (LSOAs) that make up the town, split by where their residents live. Homes with no recorded build period (0 here) are left out; 1939–44 is not a period in the data.
Born here
13 notable people born in Caernarfon before 1900
Their lives on one timeline, earliest first.
Edward II of England
Maurice Griffith
William Foxwist
John Evans
Owen Wynne Jones
William Henry Preece
Lewis Jones
David Evans, Jr.
Hugh Vincent
Gwilym Edwards
John Thomas Pritchard
Lionel Rees
Huw Menai
13501500165018001950
Edward II of England1284–1327 · King of England from 1307 to 1327
William Henry Preece1834–1913 · British scientist (1834–1913)
Lewis Jones1836–1904 · One of the founders of the Welsh settlement in Patagonia
John Evans1770–1799 · Welsh explorer who produced an early map of the Missouri River
Lionel Rees1884–1955 · Welsh Royal Air Force officer (1884–1955); recipient of the Victoria …
MG
Maurice Griffith1507–1558 · British bishop
Owen Wynne Jones1828–1870 · Welsh poet (1828-1870)
HM
Huw Menai1886–1961 · Welsh poet (1886–1961)
Everyone born in Caernarfon → Birthplaces from Wikidata; portraits from Wikimedia Commons.
Towns its size
Caernarfon has the 8th most Grade I buildings of 679 towns its size
Places of 6,000–16,000 people outside London, by Grade I listed buildings.
Caernarfon7
#26 of 679for listed buildings per resident (254 per 10,000). Brecon, Malmesbury and Ludlow lead.
Only Wells, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Sherborne, Ludlow, Whitby, Bradford-on-Avon and Blandford Forum have more. The typical town its size has 0.
Neighbours
Listed buildings in the places around Caernarfon
| Town | People | Listed | Grade I | History |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caernarfon | 9,831 | 250 | 7 | A+ |
| Bethel | 1,091 | 4 | 0 | B− |
| Llanrug | 1,537 | 0 | 0 | C− |
| Y Felinheli | 2,333 | 19 | 0 | A− |
| Clwt-y-bont | 1,385 | 2 | 0 | B− |
| Gaerwen | 1,277 | 6 | 0 | B− |
| Llanberis | 1,838 | 13 | 0 | A− |
| Penygroes | 1,793 | 8 | 0 | B |
In brief
Caernarfon in brief
Part of Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd, a World Heritage Site, lies in Caernarfon. In all there are 250 listed buildings, 7 of them Grade I. For its size, it has more listed heritage than 94% of UK towns. Its housing is old: 30% of homes date from before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Caernarfon Castle sits at the heart of it all, with 6 of the town’s Grade I buildings within 400 m. Only 7 of the 679 towns nearest its size have more Grade I buildings. A conservation area has protected part of it since 1968. Otherwise the figures are ordinary: it also has 4 scheduled monuments.
Questions about Caernarfon’s history
How many listed buildings are there in Caernarfon?
Cadw lists 250 buildings inside Caernarfon’s built-up area: 7 Grade I, 12 Grade II* and 231 Grade II.
What are the Grade I listed buildings in Caernarfon?
7, including Caernarfon Castle, Caernarfon Town Wall, Church of St Mary, Church of St Peblig, County Court (former County Hall) and Police Station, including forecourt railings and gate piers.
Which street in Caernarfon has the most listed buildings?
including forecourt railings (18), High Street (14) and Bridge Street (11) have the most listed entries named by an address. One entry can be a whole terrace.
Are there scheduled monuments in Caernarfon?
Yes, 4 scheduled monuments, including Caernarfon Town Walls, Castell Caernarfon, Lower Roman Fort and Segontium Roman Fort.
Is Caernarfon a World Heritage Site?
Caernarfon is home to part or all of Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd, inscribed by UNESCO.
How many conservation areas are there in Caernarfon?
1, covering about 12 hectares of the town. The largest is Caernarfon.
When were Caernarfon’s buildings listed?
The first in 1953; the most, 97, in 1983.
Are there old photos of Caernarfon?
Yes: 8 public-domain photos and postcards from 1730 to 1890, and an old map from 1920, all on this page.
Who was born in Caernarfon?
Among people born before 1900: Edward II of England (1284), William Henry Preece (1834), Lewis Jones (1836), John Evans (1770) and Lionel Rees (1884).
How old are the homes in Caernarfon?
30% of homes were built before 1919 and 49% before 1940, from the Valuation Office Agency’s council tax records (March 2025).
Listed buildings, scheduled monuments and historic parks and gardens: Cadw, © Crown copyright, via DataMapWales.
Sources: Cadw listed buildings, scheduled monuments and registered historic parks and gardens via DataMapWales, October 2026, inside the ONS 2022 built-up-area boundary · Valuation Office Agency, Council Tax: stock of properties by build period (31 March 2025) · TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranked against UK towns only · Cadw conservation areas via DataMapWales (October 2026). All under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.