Hay Castle Brochure

HAY CASTLE DESIGN, RESTORATION & BUILD

HAY CASTLE

…A restored gateway, conserved 12th century wooden gate and a reopened connection between Castle and town.

…A new platform and eagle's nest lookout affording spectacular views across the Wye Valley and Black Mountains of Bannau Brycheiniog.

…A new Clore education centre.

…A loft-level contemporary art and exhibition gallery.

…Cafe, bookshop, flexible event and ancillary spaces to support a major destination and venue.

…Step-free access across the steep sloping and multi-level site.

…Heritage-led restoration and measures employed for a sustainable an adaptable new use.

PROJECT SUMMARY

Sitting on the border of Wales in Hay-onWye, Hay Castle is a unique place comprising medieval Scheduled Ancient Monuments, a Grade-I listed Jacobean castle-house, intriguing Victorian outbuildings and stables, and cherished gardens. A major conservation-led renovation including repair, interventions enhancing connections between castle and its town, and emphasis on craftsmanship and materials, brings Hay Castle back to life, and to public benefit for the first time in 900 years as a vibrant, worldclass centre for gathering, learning, and arts, at the beating heart of town, and amid our beautiful, border country.

The project involved a phased masterplan, including restoring its ancient gates, re-imagining the derelict triple-height half of the castle-house, and enlivening accessible proposals for the promontory, linking disparate elements and bringing contemporary improvements to build on Hay’s unique reputation for literature, as the ‘town of books’ and home of Hay Festivals. The now-public venue delivers a museumstandard gallery, an educational suite of community spaces, interpretative access to medieval areas, a reception hall for events, a restaurant and commercial kitchen, bookshop, reading room, public realm and landscape improvements, and staff facilities.

Joining Hay Castle Trust, a client embedded in the town’s civic, farming, and tourism realms, we helped guide a collaborative and community-supportive spirit for a holistic sustainable approach to Hay Castle’s regeneration, respecting its many significances, and towards a robust and adaptable longevity and business plan for generations to come.

Much of the project was funded through NLHF, and remaining match funding was raised through grants, Welsh Government contributions, and by various trusts, charities and donations. A significant proportion of value was dedicated to careful repair and stabilising works, returning the site to safe use, having been on the Heritage at Risk Register.

Drawing upon archaeological consultants and historic building experts, Cadw ministers and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales, heritage skills advisors and even deathwatch beetle and timber diagnosticians, our team and client listened carefully to unpack the history and of the site, and appreciate its special characteristics. Following a survey of archaeological, structural and conservation conditions, we authored the Statement of Significance and alongside conservation officers and the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, the Conservation Management Plan which together formed the basis and criteria against which potential proposals would be assessed. Following numerous consultation and stakeholder discussions, and healthy compromise, we received confident backing by all parties towards planning approval, which began the next phase of investigations ahead of the main contract of works. Opening-up and measured progress began in 2018.

Two devastating fires in the 20th century meant historic elements and furnishings were lost. Within the 1980s-restored western castle-house we transformed spaces for adaptable use, strengthening floors and walls under an original oak roof structure. We approached the derelict eastern castlehouse as an opportunity for judicious contemporary insertions for gathering and linking disparate floor levels; a generous, top-lit, and breathtaking heart for the castle. Deep-balconied floor plates retaining openness and honouring the characterful stone and timber fabric remaining help in wayfinding and provide for performing and celebrating, and a cascading stair lined in warm oak ties the walls back together under a new roof. A discreet lift provides access to the uppermost levels of the castle, allowing new interpretations of the keep, and onto a new viewing platform and eagle’s lookout, commanding the strategic views over the Wye River valley the castle was first built to provide.

CREDITS

DETAILS

Project address

Hay Castle, Oxford Rd, Hay-on-Wye Hereford HR3 5DG

Dates

01/12/14 Appointment

22/11/16 Planning approval

18/06/18 Start on site

31/03/22 Partial possession

29/07/22 Practical completion

Area

980 Gross internal area (sq.m) 915 Net internal area (sq.m)

Value

£5.86m Construction cost

Sustainability

72.3 Predicted energy use (kWh/m2/y)

94.5 Actual energy use (kWh/m2/y)

17.8 Potable water use (litres/pp/day)

171 Upfront carbon (kgCO2e/m2)

1221 Embodied carbon (kgCO2e/m2) 2053 Whole-life carbon (kgCO2e/m2)

Form of contract

JCT SBC/Q 2016

Local Authority

Brecon Beacons National Park Authority

Scope

RIBA Stages 0-7, Lead Consultant, Architect, Conservation, Consultation, Space-planning, Landscape

COLLABORATORS

MICA

Lead

Stuart Cade

Project architect Juliet Aston, Jacob Spence

Technical director Chris Wood

Project Team

Client Hay Castle Trust

Architect MICA Architects

Project manager Mott Macdonald

Main contractor John Weaver Contractors Ltd

Cost consultant/ QS Aecom

Structural engineer engineersHRW

Services engineer Mott Macdonald, Clearwater

Conservation architect Acanthus Clews

Archaeological consultant Oxford Archaeology

Archaeologist Peter Dorling

Landscape architect Jeremy Rye

Landscape consultant Deborah Evans, Richard Watkins

Medieval gates consultant Hugh Harrison

Historic bldgs consultant Ric Tyler

Hist. bldgs diagnostician Rodney Mace

Timber consultant Robert Demaus

Ecological consultant: Engain, Ecology Planning

Arboriculturist Jerry Ross

Interpretation consultant Imagemakers

Planning consultant Asbri

Transport consultant Mott Macdonald

Fire engineer Mott Macdonald

CDM Coordinator Mott Macdonald

PHOTOGRAPHY

Completion Andy Stagg

Construction photographs, photos prior to works, drawings and other images: ©MICA Architects Ltd

Remains of curtain wall

South lawn

Restored gatehouse Tower

Memorial Square

North terraces

Honesty Bookshop Castle house

Town Steps

Aerial view of completed work at Hay Castle, a former inaccessible backdrop to Hay-on-Wye

Physical model of the castle through the promontory and junction between west- and east-castle house

War memorial

Hay Castle

BRIEF SITE HISTORY

c.1100

Building of 1st Motte and Bailey Castle

c.1200

Building of 2nd Castle

1213-15

Castle destroyed by King John

1231

Castle burnt by Llewelyn

1265

Castle reduced by Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester

c.1264

Castle captured by Prince Edward

1236

Building of Town Walls

c.1233

Castle rebuilt by King Henry III

Hay Castle site appears to have been first occupied as a result of the Norman Conquest. The native Welsh, already in the area, lived on the surrounding hillsides.

A complete Norman masonry castle first appeared on the natural promontory the Castle inhabits in the early 13C, and parts of this construction still remain.

The first few centuries of the Castle’s life were fraught with border conflicts, and the Castle was damaged and repaired many times over.

The Union of England & Wales was finalised in 1543, and consequently the defensive significance of the Castle declined.

A new chapter in the site’s history was begun with the building of the Jacobean manor house during the first half of the 17C, and the Castle became a home, complete with terraced gardens towards the town.

Parts of the original Castle may well have been demolished to make way for the Manor, with some parts retained, perhaps for their picturesque value.

1322

1402

Supposed sacking of castle by Owain Glyndwr

1460

Castle stated to be ruinous and destroyed by Welsh rebels

1521

Castle and town adjudged ruinous

1454

Castle captured by king’s forces and confiscated by Crown Minor structural repairs to castle

The Castle walls to the south appear to have been demolished at this time, and ground level raised for a lawn and to allow views from the manor across the landscape.

Between the 17C-19C the Castle and Manor passed through a number of families, at one stage in some decline and rented out as apartments.

In the 19C it was bought by Joseph Bailey, who was responsible for the building of the stable block and a new carriageway approach to the house.

The most well-known owner of the 20C was the bookseller Richard Booth, self-proclaimed ‘King of Hay’ who purchased the Castle in 1963.

By 2011, Richard Booth was ready to sell, and the Hay Castle Trust was formed to purchase the Castle and site, with vision to transform it into an arts, learning and significant cultural venue to support an already thriving town.

1543

c.1600 c.1702

1939

Eastern portion of mansion gutted by second fire

1910

Act of Union between England and Wales Mansion partially restored

1963

Richard Booth purchases castle and grounds

1979

Western portion of mansion gutted by second fire

20182022

Hay Castle Trust purchases castle and grounds Hay Castle restoration project

2011

Jacobean mansion built Mansion let out as apartments

HERITAGE-LED APPROACH

Dating plan

Undated

PHASE I

PHASE II

PHASE III

PHASE IV

PHASE V

PHASE VI

PHASE VII

PHASE VIII

PHASE IX

PHASE X

PHASE XI

PHASE XII

PHASE XIII

PHASE XIV

PHASE XV

PHASE XVI

Gate Tower

New Gatehouse

Portcullis, wall walk

Medieval alterations

Undated alteration

First Castle House

Main Castle House

Service Wing

Outbuildings First Phase Late 18C, pre 1797 Early 19C Later 19C

20C pre 1939 1939-1977 (between fires) 1977-1987 post fire repairs 1988-present day

The heritage-led project at Hay Castle has been about inspiring people to discover and enjoy a shared history in this place, giving new life, appreciating different views, and ensuring ongoing resilience of this asset for generations to come.

Against the brief to sensitively transform a critically at-risk building that had lost much of its original fabric and fittings, into a public and community asset for the arts, we approached the challenge with architectural and conservation expertise yet also with an open mind and with listening ears.

Following a season of in-depth organized background investigations, by invited experts, we built a catalogue of documents including site and monument archaeological studies, medieval gates condition report, historic building record and analysis, historic interpretations, building and structural condition surveys, allowing us to make informed judgements with our team and set out an emerging masterplan of proposals with HCT to meet their ambitions, and alongside focused consultation and discussions on matters with the local community, local authority, Cadw and other consultees. These were not one-sided conversations, but rather collaborative exchanges, accepting new insights and recommendations, recognizing the best solution is one formed by many and diverse voices. This led on to eventually securing planning, listed building and scheduled monument consent for our proposals. Approvals were predicated firstly on our conservation approach to rescue the building from further disrepair, informed by our understanding of its significance acquired over time, and our principles of approach each element, whether refurbishment, restoration, or contemporary insertion, all to ensure long-term preservation into the future. We authored the Statement of Significance, and Conservation Management Plan, with working policies to oversee and guide the Trust in future site management.

Collaborating with consultant Acanthus Clews Architects, we set out schedule of works, specification, and oversaw conservation works:

– Comprehensive restoration of the medieval timber gates, understood to be the oldest in-situ in the country, and detailing a management plan with Cadw to permit their operation

– Series of masonry repairs, vegetation removal, deep-repointing, pinning, galletting and stabilising – Sensitive strengthening, sock-anchoring and stabilization of existing walls

– Restoration of stone-mullioned windows with matching profiles and bronze-lattice casements, and Georgian sash windows

– Restoration of Jacobean gables, including coping, quatrefoils, and finials

– Restoration of historic stone, timber and cobbled surfaces

– Conservation of oak structures, including their drying and deathwatch beetle treatment, peg replacements, and repairing rotted elements

– Replacement of roof to original ridge and eave profiles, and employing traditional techniques of stone tile sorting and detailing

Our work at Hay Castle is subtle externally; through our historic research we accurately reinstated lost elements and introduced visually light viewing areas into medieval contexts, incorporating sensitive materials such as bronze and hardwood construction employing traditional methods. Past a threshold or two, more contemporary articulations are incorporated, representing the material change from a domestic residence to public venue, though prioritizing insertions as secondary to historic fabric, its significance, and the reading of place and its embedded narratives.

“The regeneration of Hay Castle is undoubtedly creating a better way of life for our isolated rural communities, and this project has opened up a future in which the Welsh borderlands can be internationally recognised as a beacon for inspirational arts and culture that enhance wellbeing.”

- Tom True, Hay Castle Trust

View from Memorial Square

A new cultural destination and community asset supporting the thriving town of Hay-on-Wye and surrounds. A temporary ‘light poem’ by artist Robert Montgomery adorns the castle-house.

Hay Castle | MICA Architects

TOWN STEPS & GATEHOUSE

Section A-A

Promontory section through the gatehouse and Town Steps new & refurbished elements coloured green

A reinstated access to the Castle from its Town, the steps fundamentally change and improve the town’s public realm and connection to its history, and offer a great perch on which to enjoy an ice cream.

Condition of stair before works. The central historic stair was recorded and rebuilt easing its pitch for better accessibility, returning original and matched profiled finials, and then bookended with new flights to form the Town Steps

THE GREAT GATE

A restored gateway: 12th century wooden gates that had been closed since 1600, were conserved and now offer a reopened connection between Castle and town.

Condition survey by Hugh Harrison (above), and later conservation by John Nethercott & Co. workshop (below) to restore the medieval gates, which are understood to be the oldest in-situ operational gates in the UK.

The Gates nearing Completion DOWELS Oak dowels were used throughout the medieval gate leaf - as evenly spaced primary fixings to hold both the outer vertical boards and inner lattice bracing in the correct position for nailing. At ¾” in diameter they passed right through the gate and, interestingly, at least two are clearly wedged to tighten them within the drilled holes.

Hay Castle is brought back to life as a vibrant, world-class cultural hub

TOWER

A breathtaking view over town and the Wye River valley rewards the curious visitor. The accessible viewing platform provides a moment to appreciate this castle’s historic siting amongst other nearby Roman and medieval remnants, along with an eagle’s nest 360-degree view higher up a vice.

Discreet, sympathetic and robust materials compliment the significant medieval context and give a subtle visual consistency and language to this chapter in Hay Castle's history

Conserved stone window features, consolidated remaining render, and lime repointing works preserve and protect the exciting series of spaces, now accessible to the public

The new viewing platform and eagle’s nest perched atop the remains of the medieval tower keep afford views over town and the Wye River Valley, and national park

Formerly a later-added brick wine cellar, its opening-up revealed the original gateway into the castle bailey and is captured under a reinstated heavy timber platform, recreating the dungeon space for interpretation and new use

Works rescue and conserve the critically at-risk Jacobean castlehouse and medieval keep

Completed view from the Honesty Bookshop, a locally treasured space that remained accessible during the project works.

Completed south elevation and lawn concealing a large soakaway storm drain, and paving which subtly navigates challenging site levels for improved accessibility

EAST CASTLE-HOUSE

A new roof ties back together this formerly derelict space open to the elements, and stops the building from falling down any further. A dynamic stair links new and historic floor levels.

Returning partial floor plates defines this new gathering space and allows appreciation of the history, characters and sometimes traumatic events of this site's past

A gathering and orienting space with views up, across, and out, with visual connections to principal spaces; the site’s history on display.

A transformed and reinvigorated Great Hall and entrance to this formerly domestic setting

ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDS

STAIRCASE

The Great Hall staircase works gymnastics to link manor house with medieval tower floor levels and lift landings

Access to the Tower cellar. Purposefully contemporary interventions provide meaningful contrast to the historic fabric.

Floating hand-patenated steel stair clad in locally supplied oak. Glass balustrade provides views to historic stone walls, etched with interpretative illustrations

NEW SPACES

Elegant lines of a new feature stair and platforms animate the re-enclosed east castle-house space, providing circulation to all levels within the restored castle walls, and perches on which to see, and to be seen

Richard Booth ‘King of Hay’ 1979, following the second, 1977 fire which devastated the west castle-house

Salvaged stone tiles graded, cleaned and prepared for reinstatement

New bronze casements to restored stone mullion windows

Forest of Dean stone specified as good match to original ashlar stone profiles

These large-scale rooflights are invisible externally, and provide striking top light to the new gallery and lower spaces

WEST CASTLE-HOUSE

A comfortable restaurant and events space overlooking the biodiverse and richly landscaped south lawn

Hard working restored timber sash windows provide airtight seals and manual ventilation, conceal black-out blinds, shutters, and radiant heaters, and warmly extend an invitation to sit and take in the view.

A hard-working ‘blank canvas’ Clore education suite can host a variety of uses at first floor level within an insulated and acoustically treated flexible room, with views out to Hay Bluff.

WEST CASTLE-HOUSE

The west castle-house is topped by a contemporary art and exhibition gallery, passively controlled beneath a refurbished oak roof structure following C20 fires.

Section B-B

LOANS GALLERY

SCULPTURE GALLERY

A restored Georgian-era appearance surprises a visitor upon entering to reveal a more nuanced history.

Enlivened Memorial Square, especially providing a renewed and enjoyable backdrop for market days.

Aerial of transformed castle and gardens

The town steps and gatehouse link through to the only generous public lawn space in town, and important and well-loved sun spot for picnics and major events.

significant site levels mitigated through subtle slopes and species-rich planting strategy to provide level access

SUSTAINABILITY

We employed heritage-led approaches to conservation and upgrades, working within the significance and characterful features of the site, to improve long-term thermal performance, energy demand, future adaptation, and maintenance.

The sustainable concepts in principle:

– Upgrade building fabric; exploit existing stone walls for thermal mass and repoint, draught-seal windows – Lift, insulate and reinstate roofs to historic roof lines, incorporating thin but continuous insulation

– Enhance landscape setting, better managing rainwater on site through boundary controls and a soakaway – Specify robust adaptable systems, services, and maintenance strategies

The sustainable proposals against these concepts were informed by a year of environmental monitoring early on, which continued throughout works and evidenced improved outcomes.

A continuous low-level heating strategy, allowing the building to dry in a traditional sense, meant it possible to retain the exposed stone appearance required for aesthetic significance, as opposed to an optimal rendered treatment. This accepted one would adopt a relative level of comfort, in turn allowing a smaller heating demand by gas boiler. The repointed masonry walls remained uninsulated, allowing their mass to act as a heat sink and ensuring moisture passes through freely, keeping the building healthy, controlling damp in structures (and deathwatch beetle), and regulating humidity within.

lifted and replaced, warm ventilated roof with reinstated original and salvaged stone tiling rebuilt stone mullions with bronze casements

reinstated timber sash windows to original profiles

The existing building oriented to views explains the large south-facing Georgian windows. Their refurbishment with additional features (internal shutters, solar blinds, oak linings, seats), alongside repointed surrounds, radically improves airtightness whilst ensuring spatial flexibility.

The low-energy approach to environmental comfort and loans gallery conditioning accepts a level of manual control. Our Soft Landings attitude and Handover training/ recording with facilities manager ensured an optimal level of energy use and management for various uses intents, for instance during a normal visitor daytime use, for a wedding, or a more populated Hay Festival mode.

Circular economy principles were inherent in our approach to the specification of previously used building materials, use of continuously recyclable materials such as bronze, steel and lead, and the design and detailing of fixings to existing fabric which allow for ready dismantling if required, and without impact on historic stonework (all fixings were specified and structurally tested to sit within mortar joints).

The building technologies used and skills required; stone masonry, roofing, lead work, lime-mortar and plastering, etc. are tried and tested and alive in the local community, who through ambition of the client and contractor, provided a significant portion of the workforce for the project. The castle now hosts traditional building skills training with double benefit as contributing towards the ongoing maintenance requirements of the building, assuring a healthy long life of the buildings

South elevation new & refurbished elements coloured green

and site can be readily met.

Traditional hot-mix lime mortar methods as promoted by Cadw in recent years, were employed across the building in repointing works, correcting past cement pointing and allow for future dismantling and reuse without damage to stone. This continues to be taught and practiced in the current masterplan phase of work to restore the extent of medieval curtainwall.

Further, the project saw careful and strategic re-use and adaptation of existing element, and choice of materials brought to site were prioritized according to their proximity and travel considerations:

– stone roof tiles sorted and assessed for reuse, with any make-up coming from locally donated stocks, – rubble walling stone from removed elements or salvage stocks, – removed brickwork from a later wine cellar in the medieval keep used in chimney repairs, – floor finishes (flagstones and solid timber planks) reused in situ, relocated and refurbished elsewhere in the building, or from local sawmill donation, – existing structural floor and roof elements retained, significant extents of stone walling utilized (over a metrethick at ground level), and associated foundations made to work harder, contributing to the project’s lower embodied carbon impact; the sub- and superstructure alone totalled 94 kgCO2/ m2, an A+ Structural Carbon Rating Scheme score.

Sketch details for reinstated Jacobean gables, with ashlar coping finials and quatrefoils to match existing gables remaining.

ROOF

diagrams

Derelict condition of the Jacobean castle house and medieval keep at start of works

Lifted and reset west castle-house on warm ventilated roof, and extended roof to east with matching profiles in new structure

Swept valleys and mitred hips specified for the prominent replaced roof

Roof

analysing existing stone tiles for salvage and reinstallation across lifted and insulated warm roof, consolidating original material on grouped roof planes for to avoid jarring visual contrasts in principle views

CONTINUOUS COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

On site tour and talk with the Welsh Stone Forum

MICA meeting Richard Booth at 2015 Hay Festival

HRH Prince of Wales creates a linoprint on 19C printing press at the official opening in July 2022

13C trebuchet ball discovered on site

Physical model of the castle used in consultation with stakeholders

Early site investigations to determine location of archaeological trial pits

Consultation during masterplan and project development stages, outreach and community programmes throughout construction, including traditional skills training, on-site NVQ, and now since opening dozens of events and offers to the local rural community.

Hay Castle as a major centre for arts, culture, and education. Hay Pride 2022 pictured above

Great Hall in use as local artisans market showcase

Local crafts group weekly use of Clore education spaces

South lawn treasured for large events and weddings

First public event after opening by Royal Shakespeare Company

Viewing platform affording new views over town and Wye Valley

SOUTH LAWN

MEMORIAL SQUARE

NORTH TERRACE

HONESTY BOOKSHOP

MEMORIAL SQUARE

SOUTH TERRACE

Section C-C

Short section looking east through the Jacobean castle-house new & refurbished elements coloured green

lift provides accessbility to levels with overrun discreetly located in rebuilt eccentric roof

ACCESS TO TOWER DECK

long ridge rooflight and smoke extract invisible from views, and sitting below tower

rebuilt roof, matching visible profiles and fitting within existing Jacobean verge coping

ACCESS TO VIEWING PLATFORM

ACCESS TO TOWER CELLAR

bronze-framed glass doors allow transparency between spaces and complement existing stone walling

MEZZANINE

After - View from Clyw across the Wye

Section D-D

Short section looking west through the Great Hall and North terraces

new & refurbished elements coloured green

rooflight between double pile roof provides view to heroic chimneys

new Georgian sash windows matching original profiles with oak linings

timber door sleeves transition between east and west castlehouse areas

dynamic steel truss affords a large open space and doubles to tie the opposing stone wallstogether

GREAT HALL

MEZZANINE

GALLERY

‘...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.’

- Maev Kennedy in The Art Newspaper

TERRACED GARDENS