Hayes village stood at the junction of Hayes Lane, leading north to Bromley (one mile distant), and what is now known as Pickhurst Lane, leading west to West Wickham. The centre of the old village is now called Hayes Street. The parish church of St Mary is located here; as was the village school. The public house, also on Hayes Lane, is called The George. Hayes Street Farm, still shown on modern maps, is located to the north of the village centre.
Both William Pitt the Elder, 1st Earl of Chatham (1708-1778), and William Pitt the Younger (1759-1806) lived at Hayes Hall. The Hall was demolished in 1933 and the site redeveloped, but roads in the area bear witness to them: Chatham and Pittsmead Avenues are two examples. Prior to being demolished the hall was owned by the Hambro family (of banking fame) and a couple of roads bear the family names.
The branch railway from Elmers End, originally known as the West Wickham and Hayes Railway, was opened on May 29, 1882. Hayes station is a terminus.
Today the area contains some small shops, the local post office having closed a couple of years ago and the nearest is now in the main shopping area being near the station. The village school is now a second smaller village hall. The local primary school which opened in Circa 1930 to replace the former village school is located in George Lane; in recent years it has expanded in size and now has 3 forms in each year. It is extremely popular and many of its pupils go onto Hayes School in West Common Road. By coincidence the current head of Hayes primary is a Mr Hayes!
