About East Dean

Historical and Geographical Context

    Domesday Book: East Dean is a very old settlement, mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Dene." At that time, it was a small but notable community, even having two mills powered by the River Dun.
    Location: The village is situated in the Test Valley district of Hampshire, close to the border with Wiltshire. It's about 6 miles northwest of Romsey and lies in a quiet, rural area dominated by the River Dun valley and the higher Dean Hills to the south.
    Ancient Terraces: Evidence of a long history of human habitation can be found in the ancient cultivation terraces marked on Ordnance Survey maps to the south of the village.

Local Infrastructure and Industry

    The Salisbury & Southampton Canal: In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the valley was a hub of transport development. The ambitious Salisbury and Southampton Canal once ran through the area, although it ceased to function relatively quickly. This same route was later used for the railway line connecting Salisbury and Southampton
    Defence Munitions Depot: During World War II, a Royal Naval Armaments Depot was established on 583 acres of farmland on Dean Hill. Tunnels were built into the chalk hillside to store heavy weapons for the Portsmouth fleet. The site, known as Defence Munitions West Dean, remained operational until 2004 and was even a staging post for the transport of nuclear weapons.

Notable Buildings

    St Winfrith's Church: The parish church of St Winfrith has ancient origins, with parts of the chancel potentially dating back to the 11th-century Domesday building. It is a Grade II* listed building that underwent a significant Victorian restoration in the late 19th century.
    East Dean House: This Grade II listed building is a late 18th-century house that has a fascinating history. During the French Revolution, it served as a refuge for French émigré nuns. It was also the rectory when the writer Edward Thomas passed through.