It's been months since I went to Hay - I feel guilty going without Keith because it was always somewhere we went together as a couple, either doing the tiny Fleamarket on a Friday, or as a day out (it has always been our default setting for a day out). Anyway, Pam had never been there so I offered to show her around today.
Here is the Castle all done up after it's enormous Lottery funding (the scaffolding alone came to a Million pounds apparently).
And from the other side, looking back. Easy to see which stonework hasn't had the lime mortar replaced (to the right).
It's now open to the public to wander round, and have something to eat drink now that there is a nice cafe upstairs. Pam bought us a drink and a piece of cake, and very nice it was too.
View from inside the castle across the town towards Clyro (out of site behind the fields).
A friend's shop - she has some lovely things in there. We had a chin wag too.
A craft market was being held in the old Butter Market where we used to have our stand at the Wee Flea.In the Antiques centre was this pretty screen. (NOT vintage as I bought a tulips one almost certainly by the same artist, at Malvern recently). Remember the pretty one I showed a photo of from Malvern last week too? That was priced at £75 I think. £200 seems just a little steep . . .
A rather smudgy photo of a Coach Jack, which I'd never come across before and found interesting as my g.g.g. grandfather drove the Exeter coach, back in the day.
Huge Lilies by the wool shop.Of course, temptation was at my elbow . . . They were £5 each, so I didn't go mad!
Hope you're all having a good weekend.
I've got to ask - what is a "coach jack"? I'm guessing part of a brake system? I loved the visit to the castle at Hay - living in a country with indigenous people's buildings constructed in wood and earth, and frequently demolished during intertribal wars, we have no such thing here, so tagging along on your visits is a great privilege. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteIt's like a car jack - only bigger!!! To hold the vehicle up if a wheel had become damaged. A rare survivor. Didn't see the price . . .
DeleteSorry there are no castles and ancient buildings in your neck of the woods, so glad you enjoy my outings.
DeleteI've missed your trips to Hay. Good to see the castle looking better, and to be able to visit, it always looked as if it was about to fall down. Have they tidied up the outdoor book cupboards too?
ReplyDeleteOh gosh Sue, so have I. Hopefully soon Keith will be back in action and we will both go there together - even if he has to be on the mobility scooter, which we hope will be with us soon. We are waiting on the powers that be in OT to recommend one.
DeleteYes, the castle was inaccessible in September last year when I visited Hay for (ahem!) professional reasons. Good to see you found a couple of books. Although I do find some of Kilvert’s diary hard to stomach when I dip in and out during quiet spells in the bookshop. I think I may have popped into your friend’s shop lured by milking stools and dairy bowls, but only bought some very nice cards by a Welsh artist. On our way down to Cornwall last month we stopped at Castle Drogo which had had its scaffolding removed a few weeks earlier after 12 years or so of work to roof and windows. That was a multi-million pound project. Can you believe that the original roof was asphalt - on Dartmoor! Reminds me of Petworth House having its flat sections of lead roof replaced with aluminium in the 1960s. Of course it failed and in 2015 it was replaced with lead - the NT organised roof top tours and we watched the rolls of lead come up by pulley, unrolled and nailed into place. So simple. Really hope the scooter arrives soon. We had a walk yesterday afternoon around Chidham, one of the harbours of Chichester. It was a good hour and a half walk, and S improved as we walked. At the beginning it was a bit shuffly with an occasional stumble but we got into a good rhythm and it was so beautiful with perfect conditions I am sure that helped. Have a lovely day BB and hope you manage an adventure in the next day or two. I am having a quiet day today after 41 hours in the bookshop this month and ahead of hosting both the village spinning and weaving group and book group tomorrow. Will be making a tasty treat for morning coffee and a whole spread for evening - yikes! Sarah x
ReplyDeleteI hope you will visit Hay again, professionally or otherwise. If so, give me a shout and we could meet up perhaps.
DeleteI think Kilvert is what you make him - I've always tried to read about him beyond the diary, different perspectives.
Keith had his first walk in the park for a couple of months and went much further than I thought he would be able. He could walk further, but his neck pains him from being more upright. I'll make sure he has Voltarol rubbed in tomorrow, and the GP advised paracetamol before exercise too.
You deserve a rest after working so many hours and with all the organization for the spinning and weaving and book group tomorrow. I have been doing Heavy Duty Gardening!
Hay looks lovely and good to see the castle has been restored. I like your book purchase. Really must get to Hay - son would love it there with the castle and bookshops.
ReplyDeleteA double excuse to visit then. It's worth looking around the castle now and you can sit in the grounds with a picnic too.
DeleteLovely trip around Hay, and fascinating shops not something I see down here, or up here!
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame you don't have such interesting shops up your way.
DeleteGreat to see the work on the castle finished.. although like any building, there will always be something else to do!
ReplyDeleteIs the honesty bookshop still in the lower castle yard by the street?
The shops are looking good, that is a relief these days. I remember selling in the butter market..I did the Thursday weekly market for a couple of years or more.
Yes, the honesty bookshop's still there. The castle looks lovely now though there is a mix of old and new with timber and plaster walls, and very modern staircases. The steep stone staircase up to the castle from the honesty bookshop yard must have cost a bob or two!
DeleteThe shops are still thriving, though the PO has been shut down and it now resides in the ironmongers by the zebra crossing to the car park. Perhaps I bought from you when you were in the butter market. You never know.
Loved seeing all this, thank you - my goodness yes that screen seemed pricey!
ReplyDeleteSo nice that you have Pam to keep you company while Keith can't go with you.
Alison in Wales x
Pam needs to be dragged away from working too hard (self employed), and was delighted to go to Hay for the first time. She's a good friend.
DeleteThat looks like a fascinating day out ... and coffee and cake too, just perfect!
ReplyDeleteNot a coffee drinker - the Elderflower presse was so refreshing.
DeleteI haven't been to Hay in years. Once, my lilies were that big, but as lilies are often wont to do, mine diminished annually until they are no more. Agree, £200 is steep for the screen.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great place for an outing. Do Lilies need feeding? Or perhaps replacing every couple of years? They will have that screen a long time. Knowing what they pay for a Unit there though, I can understand the price!
DeleteFeeding, the correct soil, lots of TLC of which I knew nothing, needed to keep them going year after year, otherwise in about five years they'll be gone!
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