The Restoration returned Conwy to Edward Conway, but ownership did not guarantee preservation. In 1665 he stripped the remaining iron and lead from the castle for sale. Leading citizens opposed the removal because it converted a recoverable structure into a deteriorating ruin. The episode explains why surviving castles may reflect deliberate material extraction rather than only battle damage or age. Ministry of Works repairs in the twentieth century eventually stabilized the monument visitors see today.
Notable Point · 16:41-17:33
Stripping the castle into a preserved ruin
After the Restoration, Conwy's returned owner removed its iron and lead despite local opposition, accelerating the ruin later stabilized by the Ministry of Works.