Hay Castle is currently in need of a little TLC…
Hay Castle is very much under threat. The castle and manor are in desperate need of conservation to prevent further deterioration. The Norman keep is unstable and unsafe for entry. The famed archway is impassible. The east wing of the Jacobean manor remains roofless and derelict, and its decorated stone walls are collapsing.*
History
Hay Castle is one of the great medieval structures on the border of England and Wales. Built in the late 12th century by the powerful Norman Lord William de Braose, its history is long and turbulent. The castle was sacked by Llewelyn II, the last prince of Wales, in 1233 and rebuilt by Henry III. Centuries of turmoil followed until the 15th century, when the castle passed into the hands of the Beaufort Estates. Castle House, a Jacobean mansion, was built alongside the tower in 1660.
The remains of the castle include a four-story keep and a beautiful arched gateway. The multi-gabled Jacobean manor was severely damaged by fire in 1939 and again in 1977. Owned by bibliophile Richard Booth since the 1960’s, the site was purchased in 2011 by the Hay Castle Trust.*
The Discreet Charm of Decay.
It does have a certain something about it.
Ahh, Lord Bill de Braose. The rot really set in with him. Llewellyn hanged him for being out of bounds in LLew’s wife’s bed. (Lady Joan was the King’s daughter by the way). Indeed the Broases only rose to fame after an earlier one married into the Marshall family (via William Marshall’s daughter Eve; Will being the “best knight who ever lived” as some claim). (They never said that about me !
) Its an odd crew one gets when begetting twix the Welsh and anyone else.
Just think, if he had kept to his own bed the castle might be in better nick.
There are many tales of bed hopping in medieval times!! There was such at Blenheim Palace where they showed a bed with the Kings mistress with a look of shock as the King was banging on the door. Hiding in the wardrobe was John Churchill (later he became Duke of Marlborough).
It is too bad when historic places are left to linger…
Hopefully they will manage to raise the funds to restore it.