The castle program followed a sequence rather than a single burst of construction. The first group began with Edward I's 1277 campaign. The discussion acknowledges opposition to the imposition of English law and notes that renewed fighting began with an attack at Easter in 1282. That conflict produced the next wave, including Denbigh, Caernarfon, Conwy, and Harlech, while later unrest led toward Beaumaris. Some castles never reached their intended architectural finish, but they were completed far enough to operate as fortifications. Their geography tied the program to North Wales, its access routes, and positions on coasts or sizeable rivers.
Chapter · 4:01-5:58
Three waves of castle building
The series overview separates the castles into the 1277, 1282, and later building waves and notes how many sit on coasts or navigable water.