Mayfield is a village that pre-dates the Doomsday Book and lies on the edge of the Peak District, on the outskirts of Ashbourne but crucially on the west side of the river Dove bringing it within Staffordshire. The A52 from Ashbourne to Leek road at its junction with the Uttoxeter road crosses the Dove on a “modern” i.e. 1930’s build bridge which despite the many times I had crossed it held a secret. Under this modern bridge lies a much older stone bridge dating back 500 odd years. The bridge is known to some as “The Hanging Bridge”. In December 1745 Bonnie Prince Charlie who had marched south from Scotland towards London had turned back at Derby a few miles away; during his retreat he stayed overnight at Ashbourne Hall and apparently some of his men, probably looking for provisions, ran amok in Mayfield killing at least two local people and causing many to take refuge in the local church, the door of which still shows the signs of the musket balls shot through the wood. The story goes that some of the guilty were hung from the bridge, giving it its name. Within sight of the bridge is the “Rock House” a dwelling carved out of the local sandstone.