Hay Castle

Over het museum

Hay Castle stands in the centre of Hay-on-Wye on the Welsh border. A Norman castle was built on the site and, according to local tradition, Matilda de Braose raised it in a single night; the fortress was later attacked by Llywelyn and by Owain Glyndwr. Once the borderlands were peaceful, the castle became a home and a Jacobean mansion was added alongside the medieval walls.

In the 19th century the castle was the home of the vicar William Latham Bevan and his family, and the diarist Francis Kilvert was a frequent visitor. In the early 20th century it belonged to Lady Glanusk. In the 1960s the bookseller Richard Booth bought the castle and used it to develop Hay as a book town, and in 1977 he declared himself King of Hay.

Hay Castle Trust was set up in 2011 to save the building, and restoration work by contractors began in 2018. The castle opened to the public in 2022. Visitors can now see the castle, a gallery with changing art shows, a permanent exhibition on Richard Booth, a learning space, a cafe and a shop. The castle is also the home of the Honesty Bookshop, which the trust describes as the first of its kind in the world.

Hoogtepunten

• Norman castle with a Jacobean mansion, restored and opened in 2022
• Permanent exhibition on Richard Booth, self-styled King of Hay
• Gallery with changing art exhibitions
• Honesty Bookshop and Book Nook
• Guided behind-the-scenes tours twice a day, including the cellar
• Lift access to all floors except the cellar

Vaste collectie

• Richard Booth - permanent exhibition – An exhibition about Richard Booth, former owner of the castle and founder of the book town idea, with iPads showing footage, interviews and old pictures of Hay and the castle.

Opgericht

2022

Beheerder

Hay Castle Trust

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Entry to the castle lasts for one year. The cafe, shop and Great Hall can be visited without a ticket. Historic Houses members, Friends of Hay Castle and Hay Castle Pass holders enter free, and Art Fund members pay half price.

Toegankelijkheid

• Rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

A lift serves all floors except the cellar, whose film can also be watched on iPads in the Reading Room. Accessible toilets are on the ground and first floors. A ramp from the drive leads to the ground floor and the lift. There is no parking at the castle itself; disabled bays are at the top of the Oxford Road car park, with level access across the zebra crossing and up the drive. Two sensory bags with interactive resources can be borrowed at the front desk. Not every part of the guided tour is step-free, as it includes steps down to the cellar. Visitors are asked to contact the castle in advance for special access.

Kinderen & gezin

Entry is free for visitors aged 18 and under, and the castle offers sensory bags and a programme of workshops and talks in its learning space.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

The castle is in the centre of Hay-on-Wye, opposite the main car park on Oxford Road; from the Brecon direction follow the signs for the main car park.

Service & horeca

• Café
• Museumwinkel

The cafe on the ground floor serves brunch, light lunches, cakes and snacks and is run by the caterer Epicure; it has a log fire in winter. Tables can be booked by phone. The honesty bookshop and Book Nook are in the castle. Dogs on leads are welcome on the ground floor, in the cafe and in the grounds.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur
• Privéfeesten
• Zakelijke evenementen
• Bruiloften / trouwceremonies

Several rooms are available for parties, weddings, corporate meetings and away days; the Clore Learning Space on the first floor can also be hired.

Je bezoek plannen