About Hay Castle Trust

Hay Castle Trust is a registered charity that was formed in 2011 to preserve this historic site and provide a future of cultural enrichment, educational opportunities and community enjoyment. The vision was to renovate this beautiful building and make it safe and useable for current and future generations, creating a cultural space in the vibrant Book Town of Hay on Wye.

We are lucky to sit in the centre of this fantastic town with its busy, creative and entrepreneurial community which is also home to the Hay Festival. We aim to offer a welcoming and open space for people to enjoy the heritage and culture of this area and to support the community and visitors to continue bringing art, literature, heritage and culture to this amazing part of Wales.

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Maev Kennedy in The Art Newspaper writes...

"When the locally formed Hay Castle Trust bought the castle in 2011 for, the Grade I listed and scheduled ancient monument was judged by Cadw, the Welsh government’s heritage agency, to be in imminent danger of collapse, with large parts of the building considered to be at risk. Years of fundraising and a Heritage Lottery Fund grant in 2016 finally allowed repairs to begin. After much debate, it was agreed the exterior should be restored to its original appearance, but the interior has undergone an unabashedly modern refit. MICA architects have added handsome oak, steel and glass stairs and floors, including a museum-quality temporary exhibition gallery. The redesign has also opened public access to the roof of the keep and its stunning view of the town and the river Wye."