HAY Castle has chosen a ‘champion’ to take it through the 21st century.

This week, Hay Castle Trust (HCT) announced the appointment of Rick Mather Architects (RMA) to restore the structure.

The completed project – backed by the Heritage Lottery Fund – is intended to conserve the castle as an iconic site and scheduled ancient monument open to the public all year round.

New additions will include exhibition spaces, a café, and training and educational facilities.

The appointment was made following a competitive tender process with HCT saying the RMA bid exhibited great sensitivity and understanding.

Award-winning RMA has previously worked on significant historic buildings including the Ashmolean Museum and Corpus Christi College, Oxford.

RMA partner Stuart Cade said a team of conservation specialists, architects and engineers would now be working in collaboration with the Trust and the wider Hay community to create a 21st century chapter in the castle’s history.

Already, a public information day with the design team and key stakeholders has been organised for Saturday.

Once a great medieval stronghold, Hay Castle is a scheduled ancient monument and comprises Grade I and Grade II listed buildings.

It is noted for its Norman keep and gateway, Jacobean Manor, Victorian outbuildings and terraced formal gardens.

HCT secured a development grant of over half a million pounds from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to develop their plans for the project.