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Hayfield

Beneath the western slopes of Kinder Scout, Hayfield sits peacefully in the narrow valley of the River Sett surrounded by some of the wildest hills in the Dark Peak. The first written record of the place is to be found in the Domesday Book when it was called ‘Hedfeld’ and was a natural clearing in the vast forest that once covered the whole of North Derbyshire. It was once a staging post on the packhorse route across the Pennines. The old packhorse route went up the Sett valley and by Edale Cross, where the remains of an old cross can still be seen, down to Edale by Jacob’s Ladder. Some ancient cottages still survive around the centre of the old village, and some local farmhouses date from the 17th century.

Things were much different in its industrial past, when cotton and paper mills, calico printing and a dye works made it a busy and anything but a peaceful place. As the 18th century progressed Hayfield began to share in the great expansion of textiles, which was taking place in its neighbour town, New Mills. Three-storey weavers’ houses replaced many of the thatched cottages; three woollen mills were built by the river and later in 1810, a dye works. However, the prosperity did not last and handloom weaving began to decline, although Hayfield still had woollen mills until the mid 19th century.

A curious building can be found in Market Street, on the left of a small square known as Dungeon Brow. Built in 1799, this was the town’s lock-up and was referred to as the new prison. However, the stocks in front of the building appear to be somewhat newer than the prison itself.

The elegant parish Church of St Matthew was completed in 1818, and is a reminder of this Pennine town’s former prosperity. It stands on the site of a medieval church built in 1386 at the command of Richard II. The freemen of the parish had the right to appoint their own vicar, recommending him to the local bishop. This right was given to the freeholders when the church was built. 

Tourists now come to walk on Kinder Scout, which at 2,088 feet is the highest point in the Peak District National Park, or to explore the much gentler valley of the River Sett. Hayfield is a popular centre for exploring the area and offers many amenities for hill walkers. The old station site has been turned into a picnic area and information centre. For many years Kinder Scout was barred to walkers, being preserved as a grouse moor until the peace was interrupted on 24th April 1932 by the famous ‘Mass Trespass’, when four hundred ramblers set off walking across the moors. Five ramblers were later arrested and imprisoned for their part in the demonstration. But it was not made in vain: as a result of the trespass access restrictions were gradually reduced. The walk started from Bowden Bridge Quarry, just to the west of the village centre, which is now a car park with public toilets and a Peak Park campsite opposite.

Three miles northeast of the town is Kinder Downfall, a spectacular waterfall and at over 90 feet is the highest waterfall in the county. It lies on the River Kinder, where it flows over the edge of Kinder Scout. The waterfall was formerly known as ‘Kinder Scut’, and it is from this that the plateau derives its name. In winter when the fall freezes solid it forms an imposing and fascinating sight – one not to be missed! In such conditions, climbers use it for ice-climbing training. It is also renowned for its blow-back effect, hence the phrase ‘Kinder blow-back’: where the prevailing wind forces the fall’s water back against the rock so the water appears to run uphill!  Not far from the bottom of the fall is a small lake known as Mermaid’s Pool. Legend has it that those who go to the pool at midnight on the night before Easter Sunday will see a mermaid, or water sprite, swimming in the dark waters. The legend is said to date back to the times when pools and lakes were places of worship.