An ancient castle situated on the border between England and Wales could soon be open to the public thanks to a £500,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).
Hay Castle has had an eventful history since it was built 900 years ago by Norman Lord William de Braose. It has sacked by Llewelyn II in 1233, was rebuilt by Henry III, and endured centuries of turmoil.
The Hay Castle Trust purchased the site in 2011 and is working towards opening the castle to the public for the first time in its 900-year history.
One of the first big jobs will be to restore the ancient gate—believed to be the oldest in the UK. Restoration work will also be required on the Medieval and Jacobean buildings and the Trust is actively seeking volunteers to assist them with the many different aspects of the project.
Nancy Lavin Albert, the Managing Director of Hay Castle, was delighted when she heard the bid for lottery assistance had been successful.
"We realize how many important projects there are that are equally deserving and we’re thrilled to know that others care about this project as much as we do," she said.
The HLF is responsible for distributing a share of the funds raised by UK National Lottery Good Causes. HLF grants are awarded to projects designed to sustain and transform the British Heritage.
The Hay Castle project has received a first round pass. In order to compete for a firm award the Trust will need to provide the HLF with fully developed proposals within the news two years.
