Description
The oldest building in the village of Hayes is the medieval parish church of St Mary the Virgin that dates from the C13th, although extended in subsequent years. It was restored in the C19th when Roman stones were discovered. The churchyard is bounded on the roadside by a flint wall, which matches the construction of the church, and contains an ancient yew tree.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Hayes Parish Church |
|---|---|
| Site location | Hayes Street, Hayes |
| Postcode | BR2 7LH |
| What3Words | ///notice.speak.actual |
| Type of Site | Churchyard |
| Borough | Bromley |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Public Transport | Rail: Hayes. Bus: 119, 146. |
| Research Updated | 1 March 2012 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
There are C13th remnants of the old church in the tower and west wall, and the nave roof dates from the late C15th. The church was renovated and enlarged in the C19th, with extensive work in 1856-62 by Sir Gilbert Scott. The chancel was redesigned in 1904/5 and the south porch was built in 1963. In 2005 an extension to the vestry was built. During its C19th restoration a number of Roman stones were found and the site was reputedly once that of a Roman temple. Among those associated with the church are two Prime Ministers, William Pitt the Elder, Earl of Chatham, and his son William Pitt the Younger who was baptised here, whose family owned Hayes Place. Bruce, the 'African traveller', who was married here. Memorials in the churchyard include that of Sir Everard Hambro of Hayes Place (d.1925), and General Alexander Mackenzie Fraser (d.1809), and there is also the grave of 9 year old John Panis of the North American Panis tribe, who was brought to England as a slave in 1763.
Today the churchyard is laid to grass, some of which is left unmown and it is described on a notice as a 'sanctuary for wild life, i.e. Birds, Butterflies and flowers', the grass said to be cut 'at the end of June'. A yew tree to the north of the porch is certified by the Conservation Trust for Country Living as being 1300 years old.
Today the churchyard is laid to grass, some of which is left unmown and it is described on a notice as a 'sanctuary for wild life, i.e. Birds, Butterflies and flowers', the grass said to be cut 'at the end of June'. A yew tree to the north of the porch is certified by the Conservation Trust for Country Living as being 1300 years old.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ405663 |
|---|---|
| Site Ownership | Diocesan of Rochester |
| Site Management | Church |
| Dates | C13th onwards |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | No |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Bromley |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | Not known |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes - Borough Importance I |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.
Nearby parks and gardens
The largely level site was the garden of former rectory, now Hayes Public Library, and retains little of its pre-municipal character: specimen conifers including Wellingtonia and yews. Other specimen trees include three acacias and a group of three limes to the front. It was laid out as a public park in 1906 and forms a compact garden with rose garden and tennis courts around the library. The garden has flower, rose and shrub beds, with laurel hedges on the boundaries. The walls on the street side are topped with iron railings and there are matching ornamental iron gates.
Both Husseywell Open Space and The Knoll were formerly part of the estate of Hayes Place, and probably established as parkland c.1755; by 1767 what is now Husseywell Open Space and pond were well established. The 1st edition OS Map of 1871 shows the area as farmland. When the Hayes Place Estate began to be developed for housing in the 1930s, local Cllr Percy Jones argued for some land to remain public open space, which eventually resulted in the creation of Husseywell Recreation Ground and The Knoll.
Warren House, later renamed The Warren, was built in 1882 as a country mansion, the house and its grounds added to by subsequent owners, who developed the gardens. Since 1935 it has been the Metropolitan Police Sports Ground, the house now the club house. It retains fine gardens although a number of trees, shrubs and flowerbeds were removed to make a playing field. Tennis courts have been built on the site of the kitchen garden and a bowling green made on the east side of the house.