The relief road was built to ease heavy traffic that once travelled through the narrow main streets of the village.

This controls the flow of the River Kinder, thereby avoiding the risk of flooding that had previously been a serious problem within Hayfield village, and which necessitated raising the height of the main street.

[4] Although classed as being in the East Midlands, Hayfield is at the northern extremity of the region and falls more within the influence of Manchester and Stockport in North West England.

[9] It was included in the Royal Forest of the Peak in medieval times, but was not a parish until it was created perpetual curacy by Richard II.

In Descriptions of the Country from 30–40 miles Around Manchester (1795), John Aikten wrote: "The inhabitants [of Hayfield] are principally clothiers, though the cotton branch of late has gained a small footing.

"[5] As with most northern English villages, the Industrial Revolution brought rapid expansion, chiefly the creation of several cotton mills within Hayfield, along with numerous fabric printing and dyeing businesses, as well as paper manufacture.

Initially built to carry fuel to power the mills, the railway line also bought passengers to Hayfield.

A short-lived continuation to the line was built in the early 20th century to convey materials and workmen during the construction of Kinder Reservoir.

[10] As late as 1937, the book The King's England: Derbyshire stated that Hayfield "is busy making paper and printing calico".

[16] But with industrial decline in the mid-to-late 20th century, Hayfield returned to its original status of a quiet rural village.

[18] The parish church of St Matthew has existed in its present location since 1386, having previously stood at Kirksteads, the name given to the area where the rivers Kinder and Sett meet near Bowden Bridge.

Hugh Bourne Primitive Methodist Chapel was built on Jumble Lane (now Kinder Road) in 1867 and deconsecrated in 1969, its congregation merging into St John's.

[24] Hayfield is no longer an industrial settlement and nowadays is considered a thriving Peak District village with a strong community spirit.

Many residents work outside of Hayfield in nearby Stockport and Manchester, or in neighbouring towns and villages, although there are a handful of local businesses providing employment, including farms.

Hayfield is considered a desirable place to live within the High Peak and this is reflected in higher property prices compared to neighbouring towns and villages.

[17] An increasing number of residents have moved from nearby Manchester and Stockport to experience a better quality of life, and it is possible to argue that Hayfield is undergoing gentrification.

An annual May Queen procession is held in the village each year in May, as were sheepdog trials at nearby Little Hayfield, in September, until 2019.

[31] The village contains a high number of public rights-of-way, as well as bridleways, a legacy of the pre-industrial days, when they provided the only ways in and out of the area.

[32] Other local destinations for walkers and mountain bikers include Lantern Pike (also accessible from Little Hayfield), a prominent hill to the north west of the village traversed by the Pennine Bridleway.

They then proceeded to disappear, leaving Dr Clegg to remark: "...what is become of them or in what distant region of this vast system they have since fixed their residence no mortal can tell.

The villagers then blamed her for the disappearance, and she was dragged before the George pub and pelted with rotten fruit and stones, almost killing her.

The bus station is at the eastern end of it where many walkers and horse riders visit; there is a car park, toilet and tourist information centre.