This takes place in the Clore Learning Space every other Monday from 11am until 4pm.
Please bring your own materials
The sessions cost £18 for the full day from 11-4pm and £12 for a morning or afternoon session only.
The morning session starts at 11am so please arrive at about 10.45am
The afternoon session starts at 1:45pm so please arrive at least 10 mins beforehand
Join local historians Elizabeth Bingham and Mary Morgan at Hay Castle for a delightful talk on the fascinating history of watermills. They’ll share illustrated stories of old mills near Hay, once used for grinding grain into flour, fulling cloth, and making paper. Some mills are still working, while others have been transformed into charming homes, cozy cafés, or even hydro-generating projects. It's a perfect opportunity to learn and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of Hay Castle.
Every village and most hamlets had their church, the inn or at least cider house, and their mill. The Industrial Revolution and the development of steam power made many redundant in the 19th and 20th centuries but some round here, including those at Clodock, Rhosgoch and Stauton-on-Arrow, went on working into the 1950s. Recently some have been meticulously restored and others converted into homes, cafes, galleries and small hydropower projects.
In National Mills weekend (May 9th/10th 2025) several of the mills in Elizabeth and Mary’s new booklet will be working and open for visitors.
Have-A-Go Shakespeare - special Festival session
Are you curious about Shakespeare? Would you like to learn more, share what you know and ‘Have-A-Go’ in an informal environment with a like-minded group? Come for tea, a chat and a bash at Shakespeare. No experience or prior knowledge necessary!
The sessions are run by our Artistic Directors, Sue Best and Phil Bowen, who have a lifetime’s experience of working with Shakespeare in a professional and participatory context. The workshops offer an opportunity for all-comers to ‘Have-A-Go’ at Shakespeare in a fun and supportive environment and facilitate discussion around the themes of the plays in both a historical and current context.
£7.50 per session - payable on the day.
All welcome! No experience necessary
Come and explore Hay Castle with its director Tom True, who will introduce the history and invite you to get to know some of the characters from the castle’s past. He’ll also talk about running Hay Castle for the past three years.
This event forms part of Herefordshire Histories Festival 2025.
Tours are limited to 20 people and take about 45mins to an hour
The tour costs £15 per person
Come and explore Hay Castle with its director Tom True, who will introduce the history and invite you to get to know some of the characters from the castle’s past. He’ll also talk about running Hay Castle for the past three years.
This event forms part of Herefordshire Histories Festival 2025.
Tours are limited to 20 people and take about 45mins to an hour
The tour costs £15 per person
Elizabeth Moriarty, Whites Farm Baskets, Felted Sheep Company, Wye Wicks, WoodnClay, James Newman, Helen Simone Textiles, Bernadette’s Bags, The Wildwood Artist, Mooniiplaits Crochet, Me Semi-Precious, Spalt Made, Beacons Pottery, Carpenter and Cloth, Belinda Gilbert and Stephen Nicolls, ESB Leather, Buckwood Studios, Jane Hickman, Brook Street Pottery, Rebound Books, Bee Welsh Honey, Happy Days Jewellery, Eynonymous Designs, Town and, Country Walking Sticks, Bea’s Wardrobe, Joon Silver, Rag Bagz, Lauriel Design, Drifft, and Sarah Marshall.
If that wasn’t enough, Sally Mathews will be bringing the lawn to life with her wonderful life size animal sculptures! Plus, enjoy enchanting recitals from the Solstice Collective, our wind quartet in residence. This event is a fantastic opportunity to support local artisans, discover unique treasures, and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of Hay.
Have-A-Go Shakespeare - special Festival session
Are you curious about Shakespeare? Would you like to learn more, share what you know and ‘Have-A-Go’ in an informal environment with a like-minded group? Come for tea, a chat and a bash at Shakespeare. No experience or prior knowledge necessary!
The sessions are run by our Artistic Directors, Sue Best and Phil Bowen, who have a lifetime’s experience of working with Shakespeare in a professional and participatory context. The workshops offer an opportunity for all-comers to ‘Have-A-Go’ at Shakespeare in a fun and supportive environment and facilitate discussion around the themes of the plays in both a historical and current context.
£7.50 per session - payable on the day.
All welcome! No experience necessary
This workshop has been developed to compliment the exhibition - 20th Century Welsh Painters which will be in the Gallery at this point.
The workshop will include entry into the exhibition as well as an element outside on the lawn looking at the colours of the landscape. Emily will accompany participants to the exhibition to look at the works and then everyone will go to the Learning Space on the 1st floor to work with collage and paints.
The workshop does not require any prior collaging experience.
Please bring a photograph or image of a landscape you love that you can work with.
On 12th July there will be even more books and bibliophiles in Hay than usual as the Hay PBFA Book Fair 2025 takes place in Hay Castle from 10am - 5pm. There will be specialist book dealers from around the UK exhibiting and there will be books for all tastes and budgets on offer.
The dealers will fill the Great Hall of the castle and the mezzanine level above and it is sure to be a truly beautiful sight seeing the castle overflowing with books and ephemera once again.
Entry to the fair is free as is entry to the castle for the whole day of the Fair so it is a perfect day to visit.
Join us for a special summer evening walk exploring Hay-on-Wye’s historic landscape and surrounding countryside, with exclusive insights from Hay Castle’s team.
Immerse yourself in the beauty of a summer evening as we set off on a circular guided walk from Hay Castle, led at a relaxed pace with plenty of time to enjoy the views.
This week, we’re joined by Sara Bowie, Retail & Events Manager at the Castle Trust, who will share updates on upcoming events and projects the Castle is up to.
Our route takes in Hay’s historic surroundings and countryside before returning to the Castle, where Tom True, Executive Director of Hay Castle, will meet us in the Castle grounds. Those who wish can stay on to enjoy their packed suppers in the shadow of the castle whilst perhaps asking Tom any questions about its rich history and exciting future.
This easy-to-moderate walk will last around 2 hours, with assistance provided where needed.
A perfect way to spend a summer evening, connecting with history, landscape, and community.
Kate Bliss, a regular face on BBC antiques programmes and an independent jewellery and fine art valuer is hosting a free ‘drop-in’ Valuation Day for jewellery and silver as well as other antiques and contemporary fine art.
Have you recently inherited items you know nothing about? Do you have jewellery you never wear? Kate offers a unique opportunity to find out more about your valuables including their potential value.
A Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain, Kate has over 20 years experience valuing single items to unique collections and whole house contents. Whether it’s the right time to realise some assets or simply de-clutter, Kate will provide you with a verbal consultation and arrange items for sale if suitable.
Drop-in for a free valuation in the Clore Learning Space 10am to 4pm, Sat 19th July
The Shows
As well as visitor engagement and games, as part of our Knights and Castles event days we provide several 30 minute shows throughout each day. Each show takes the audience through the story of the life of the Knight and are designed to get the audience involved and feel like they are part of the story.
The Games
For many visitors it is the games that we provide that are the highlight. Our games are all Medieval games that transport players back in time. We fill our Games Arena with many different games, that are relevant to the period, that visitors can play at their leisure and return as much as they want.
In a small corner of a field in Wales, Tiffany Murray is hiding with Boggle the dog, dreaming of her mum's moussaka, blackberry and apple crumble, and, if she's lucky, ice-cold lemonade. A sheep bleats. The smell of hay tickles her nose. The twang of a guitar and crack of a snare carry on the breeze.
It's the late 1970s and Tiff lives with her mum, Joan, at Rockfield, the iconic recording studios. This place of legend, where some of the most famous rock albums of all time were recorded, is the background to a freewheeling, ever-changing whirlwind of a childhood. Tiff's days are spent running around the farm, making friends with local wildlife and helping out with the endless array of dishes her mum creates to keep the bands fed. She's looking for a dog, she's looking for a father; but the one constantthroughout is her and Joan, building an unconventional family in the most unlikely of locations.
My Family and Other Rock Stars is Tiff's remarkable, truly unique story of growing up in a rural idyll, of Cordon Bleu cookery and of a childhood where the chances of bumping into Freddie Mercury playing piano, or a group of Hell's Angels turning up to record for Lemmy, or even the hope of David Bowie appearing, were as normal as hopscotch and homework.
Open 10am to 5pm,
seven days a week.
Hay Castle
Oxford Road
Hay-on-Wye
HR3 5DG
01497 820079
info@haycastletrust.org