Hay
The name could be derived from either the Middle English Hay or French Haie, both of which mean a hedge or fence or fenced area of park. This could refer to a deer park or an area set aside for hunting. The town was created after the conquest of the area and the creation of the marcher lordship of Hay. As with other boroughs which were created by the Anglo-Norman conquerors, Hay was intended to be a commercial centre and stronholds of English settlers. The town was given a grant of murage in 1236. This allowed protective walls to be built around the town.
The Lordship of Hay was divided into two seperate manors; Welsh Hay and English Hay. English Hay was the area round the borough which would have been English in settlement and culture.
[Richards; Fairs; Davies]
The Lordship of Hay was divided into two seperate manors; Welsh Hay and English Hay. English Hay was the area round the borough which would have been English in settlement and culture.
[Richards; Fairs; Davies]
Hay: Castle
The second castle at Hay, the remains of which overlook the present town, has had a long and troubled history, having been sacked by the Welsh and by the English over the years. From 1100 to 1500 the Marches went through many turbulent episodes as powerful Marcher Lords changed sides in the hope of advancing their own interests.
Much of the early history of Hay Castle was bound up in the fortunes of the dynasty of the mighty Barons de Breos (or Braose) until the mid 13th century. The castle was then held by the de Bohun family until early in the 15th century. Hay Castle and much of the then town had, by some accounts, been totally destroyed by Owain Glyndŵr and his forces in the early 15th century as he travelled south after his victory at the battle of Pilleth, near Presteigne. It is now believed that any damage in Hay was much less severe, possibly because of support for Glyndwr in the area at that time. Very little of the original castle has survived, other than the main gateway and part of the keep. A many gabled Jacobean mansion, which dominated the town below, was built alongside the castle remains in about 1660. As recently as the early 1800's the dungeon of the original castle was still being used as the gaol for the town.
In its later years the mansion attached to the castle became a residence for the 'gentry'. From 1825 until the turn of the century it served as a vicarage for the clergy of Hay, and the Rev. Francis Kilvert, the famous Victorian diarist who was a curate in nearby Clyro for many years, was a frequent visitor to the castle. The mansion was severely damaged by a disastrous fire in 1939, but was later substantially restored. Another fire in 1977 caused as much destruction as the first, and today much of the Jacobean building is little more than an empty shell open to the elements.
[Poole; Remfrey; R.R. Davies]
Much of the early history of Hay Castle was bound up in the fortunes of the dynasty of the mighty Barons de Breos (or Braose) until the mid 13th century. The castle was then held by the de Bohun family until early in the 15th century. Hay Castle and much of the then town had, by some accounts, been totally destroyed by Owain Glyndŵr and his forces in the early 15th century as he travelled south after his victory at the battle of Pilleth, near Presteigne. It is now believed that any damage in Hay was much less severe, possibly because of support for Glyndwr in the area at that time. Very little of the original castle has survived, other than the main gateway and part of the keep. A many gabled Jacobean mansion, which dominated the town below, was built alongside the castle remains in about 1660. As recently as the early 1800's the dungeon of the original castle was still being used as the gaol for the town.
In its later years the mansion attached to the castle became a residence for the 'gentry'. From 1825 until the turn of the century it served as a vicarage for the clergy of Hay, and the Rev. Francis Kilvert, the famous Victorian diarist who was a curate in nearby Clyro for many years, was a frequent visitor to the castle. The mansion was severely damaged by a disastrous fire in 1939, but was later substantially restored. Another fire in 1977 caused as much destruction as the first, and today much of the Jacobean building is little more than an empty shell open to the elements.
[Poole; Remfrey; R.R. Davies]
Hay: Church of St Mary
The first recorded reference to a church at Hay is 12th century when it was appropriated by Brecon priory. The dedication to St mary is thought to date from around this time. There may have been an earlier church on this site on the western side of the town of hay but there are no indications in either the building or churchyard to confirm this. The church was rebuilt by Edward Haycock in 1833-34 in Late Georgian Gothic style (possibly after an earlier collapse), and the chancel was enlarged in 1866. A new floor and south windows were added later.
The only part of the building surviving from the medieval church is the 15th century tower which is surmounted by 19th century battlements. (Image below courtesy of the Powys County Archives Office)
[Haslam; Historic Churches Survey]
The only part of the building surviving from the medieval church is the 15th century tower which is surmounted by 19th century battlements. (Image below courtesy of the Powys County Archives Office)
[Haslam; Historic Churches Survey]
Hay: St John's Chapel
St John's Chapel, also known as Church Evan or Ifan, is one of the earliest religious foundations in Hay. It is entirely separate from the parish church of St Mary. The oldest known documentary reference to the chapel was in a survey of Chantry Chapels in Wales ordered by Henry VIII in 1545. In a reference to the parish of Hay it was recorded that "there is within the same parish one chappell called Saynt John's Chappell founded of Auncyente tyme by whom it is not known". It is possible that the chapel was on the site of a pre-conquest church of some kind.
The chapel was used for various purposes during its long history, serving as a college, school, and as a chapel for the Guild of Hay Tradesmen. As a chantry chapel it suffered the same fate as the monasteries, losing its holdings, incomes and possessions to the crown in 1547.
The building was included in a fairly crude drawing of the town (see above) to accompany the published report of the Official Progress of His Grace the 1st Duke of Beaufort Through Wales in 1684 when it was used as a school room. The building seems to have fallen into a semi-ruinous state until it was rebuilt as a lock up in the early 19th century. When this was no longer needed the building was converted into commercial premises being used as a hairdressers at one point. Today the shop has been converted to a meeting room and a small chapel built on the eastern end of the site.
[Fairs; Williams; Haslam]
The chapel was used for various purposes during its long history, serving as a college, school, and as a chapel for the Guild of Hay Tradesmen. As a chantry chapel it suffered the same fate as the monasteries, losing its holdings, incomes and possessions to the crown in 1547.
The building was included in a fairly crude drawing of the town (see above) to accompany the published report of the Official Progress of His Grace the 1st Duke of Beaufort Through Wales in 1684 when it was used as a school room. The building seems to have fallen into a semi-ruinous state until it was rebuilt as a lock up in the early 19th century. When this was no longer needed the building was converted into commercial premises being used as a hairdressers at one point. Today the shop has been converted to a meeting room and a small chapel built on the eastern end of the site.
[Fairs; Williams; Haslam]
Hay: Tump
After the successful invasion of England by William of Normandy in 1066, the king rewarded his supporters with lands along the borders of Wales. These powerful Marcher Lords were permitted to seize land from the Welsh in the 12th century, and they built motte and bailey castles, firstly of earthworks topped by timber palisades and later rebuilt in stone, to secure the conquered lands. The land around Hay was taken by the Normans around 1100, when their first small castle on an artificial mound to the south-west of the present town centre was constructed. This original castle site, close to the parish church of St Mary, was abandoned around 1200 when it was replaced by a much larger stone castle built on high ground at the centre of the town (see above). The old photograph shown above right is of the earthworks, long referred to as 'The Tump', near the River Wye at Hay, close to the site of the present Cattle Market. The larger mound is the base of the motte and would originally have been crowned by a timber tower or keep.
[Poole; Remfrey; R.R. Davies]
[Poole; Remfrey; R.R. Davies]