Restoration to Hay Castle

Hay-On-Wye

Bronze Heritage Windows

Rick Maher Architects

RIBA RSAW Building of the Year 2024

Hay Castle sits at the heart of Hay-on-Wye, widely known as ‘the world’s first book town.’ After years of decline, the Grade I-listed site, comprising of a Norman keep and Jacobean manor, was in a state of disrepair. Major structural elements were unsafe, and the castle was closed to the public.

Working with Rick Maher Architects, Architectural Bronze supplied and installed a number of bespoke bronze windows to the oldest part of the building. The project was subsequently recognised with a RIBA Wales Award in 2024, celebrating the architectural quality and sensitive restoration of Hay Castle.

The bronze windows were designed using our heritage system that features silicone pointed leaded lights, designed to complement the character of the historic building. Saddle bars were also added to help reinforce the structure, preventing movement or sagging over time. The windows were added to pair with the newer part of the building’s timber windows.

Each window was crafted using multiple small panes of glass with the traditional leaded lights adding a sense of aesthetic appeal that matches the historic design.