Welcome to the Hay Warren Trustees Website
The riverside meadow, which for hundreds of years has been known locally as the Warren is accessed by the lane adjacent to Warren close to the west end of Hay. It is believed that this area in medieval times was used for the breeding of rabbits for food, hence its name. For many years has been used for walking, and recreation by the people of the town.
In the early nineteen seventies a scheme was proposed to convert this area into a Caravan Park, but several local businessmen and residents, horrified at the loss of this beautiful area, decided to club together to purchase the field so that it could continue its existence as an unchanged meadow more..
Hay Butter Market
Hay Butter Market was erected by a local entrepeneur by the name of William Enoch in 1830. It
replaced a very old open market in order to provide a covered market area for the use of local traders and farmers on market days which have always been a Thursday. It is situated right in the centre of town by Hay Castle Square.
The building had been walled up since just after the second World War but was opened up and restored by Hay Warren Trustees in 1985.
The Trustees won a "Prince of Wales Award" for this restoration. It is now used again every Thursday and also by other traders and charity organisations on most Saturdays and holiday weekends.
It can be hired for daily or weekly events throughout the year and has become very popular during the summer months especially during
The Guardian Literary Festival which is held in Hay every year at the end of May
Details of hiring
All about Hay
Hay-on-Wye is an ancient market town whose northern and eastern boundaries border England. The spectacular countryside which surrounds Hay is just a few steps away from wherever you are in town. Stroll along the banks of the River Wye or in the foothills of the Black Mountains and unwind in this tranquil setting. Crossing the border, over the Dulas Brook, will take you through the fertile fields of the Golden Valley. Across the River Wye are the rolling green hills of Radnor. A short drive away from Hay, up a single track road, will take you to the base of Hay Bluff which rises 2,227ft, and from where there are spectacular, uninterrupted views over the Brecon Beacons National Park, Radnorshire and Herefordshire.
Nestling amidst all this splendour is Hay-on-Wye, reputed to be the jewel in the crown of Wales and known throughout the world as the 'Town of Books'. Richard Booth, self proclaimed King of Hay and owner of Hay Castle, opened his first second-hand bookshop in 1961 and pursued his dream to create the largest second-hand and antiquarian book-selling centre in the world. Mr Booth still holds claim to the 'largest second-hand bookshop in the world' and his vision and efforts in pioneering the book-town concept led to his crowning as 'Emperor of the Book Towns of the World'.
Due to the ingenuity of Richard Booth (awarded an MBE in 2004 for services to tourism) this unique town with its maze or narrow ancient streets, now houses over 30 bookshops with over a million books for sale on every conceivable subject.
There is also a variety of galleries, antique shops and gift shops providing a wide choice for the discerning visitor. *
* From Hay-on-Wye Tourist Information Guide 2008