Hay on Wye Castles
Hay on Wye, like Builth Wells, has two castles within a short distance of each other. The history of both sites open up new possibilities for the early foundation of this castle. It is possible Hay was fortified by William Fitz Osbern (d.1071) during his penetration of Sout-East Wales in the summer of 1070 when he defeated three Welsh kings. The history of the site then continues through the lordships of the Neufmarchés, which was confirmed at the battle of Brecon in 1093, and also the Gloucester/Hereford families until 1165, when the district passed into the hands of the Braoses. In the book listed below the early origins of the castle are examined and compared with that of the little known motte by the church, which is usually wrongly described as the first castle of Hay on Wye. After 1230 Hay castle passed to the Bohuns. The next year a battle near Hay took place when Prince Llywelyn ab Iorwerth (d.1240) tried to annex the lordship. The disputes over the next 20 years led to Hay becoming somewhat separated from the lordship of Brecon and the castle played its part through the Mortimer wars of the 1260s down to the death of Earl Humphrey Bohun in 1298.
The Motte CastleThe Main Castle
The main fortress within Hay on Wye was situated on the great site commanding the town and river under the current ruins of the castle and mansion. This was undoubtedly the 'castello de haia' handed to Miles Gloucester (d.1143) in 1121 with the daughter of Bernard Neufmarché. It is possible that the keep/gatehouse stood by this time. If so this would make it one of the the earliest 'Norman' towers in Wales. During the Anarchy (1136-54) a series of charters were passed by the Gloucesters concerning the castle. In 1165 the last of Miles Gloucester's male descendants was killed at nearby Bronllys castle and the castle passed into the hands of William Braose of Radnor and Buellt. The Braose were energetic lords and possibly built the core of the gatehouse which now stands besides the keep. In the summer of 1198 a major English army formed at Hay before marching off to victory at the battle of Painscastle some 4 miles to the north.
In May 1230 the last Braose of Brecon was hanged by Prince Llywelyn ab Iorwerth and Brecon lordship with Hay on Wye passed into the hands of the Bohuns. Taking advantage of this in 1231, Prince Llywelyn ravaged the lands of his Bohun in-laws during which Hay on Wye town was burnt. In July Llywelyn also routed an English army in battle near Hay with the aid of a monk from Abbey Cwmhir. The castle saw service in the Barons' War of 1263 to 1266, changing hands three times and on one occasion being surrendered to the great Earl Simon Montfort of Leicester. With the conquest of North Wales by Edward I life became more peaceful in this Marcher town.
Around
1401 both
town and castle are alleged to have suffered damage by
Owain
Glyndwr's forces, although the castle was listed as defensible against
the Welsh in 1403. The fortress later passed to the earls of Stafford,
who were to
become the unlucky dukes
of Buckingham during the Wars of the Roses. The castle was
repaired during the conflicts
of the 1460s, although its military use would have been somewhat
dubious
against cannon. In the 1660s James Boyle of Hereford built a new
mansion on the
north side of the castle, while most of the curtain wall was
demolished to improve the views of this new house. The mansion is now
used for second-hand bookselling.
Description
The main tower, originally a rectangular gatehouse, but later converted into a small keep, is roughly 32' by 28' and was
once of 4 storeys. The corners of the tower have
been much
rebuilt, probably due to insecure foundations. The entire south-east
corner of the tower has been replaced and it is possible that when
first
constructed there was a spiral stair here to allow access to the upper
floors. This keep was thought to be similar to the ones found at Goodrich and White Castle.
However, a recent excavation has uncovered the remains of the old
Norman castle gateway buried in a brick wine store beneath current ground
level within the tower. Of this only the north face is currently visible. This would have made the tower a
rectangular gatehouse, later converted into a keep. Such conversions
also happened at the much larger gatehouses at Richmond and Ludlow.
The gatetower therefore is similar, but smaller, than that found
at the Braose caput of Bramber. However, a nearer comparison might be
the rectangular gatehouse at Richards Castle, but this is all but destroyed above ground level.
Some time in the
twelfth century the powerful curtain wall
with gate was added to the rampart around the site. This
gateway is one of
the finest carved castle gateways in Wales and is comparable with the
much more
ornate work at Newcastle Bridgend castle. The two gates
hanging within the
gateway, although of different ages, would appear to be very old - the
gates at
Chepstow castle have
been dendrochronologically dated to the reign of Henry II
(1154-89). Probably
during the troubles of the Barons' War a
small gatehouse was added in front of the gateway to make a proper
gatehouse
complete with
portcullis. The portcullis mechanism mounted on the wall walk
was reached
via a flight of steps up over the back of the gate passageway which
also allowed
access to the wall walks.
Hay on Wye town was once enclosed within town walls and there was a chain over the River Wye to stop traffic passing without paying a toll! The town defences are best preserved on a bank on the east side of the town.
Order the full book on Hay on Wye castle through the PayPal basket below.
Why not join me at other Lost Welsh Castles next Spring? Please see the information on tours at Scholarly Sojourns.
Copyright©1994-2007
Paul Martin Remfry