Population 481 2011 Census Civil parish West Dean Country England Area 24.84 km² District Chichester District UK parliament constituency Chichester | OS grid reference SU861126 Region South East Sovereign state United Kingdom Shire county West Sussex Dialling code 01243 | |
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West Dean is a village and civil parish in the District of Chichester in West Sussex, England 5 miles (8 km) north of Chichester on the A286 road just west of Singleton. The parish includes the hamlets of Binderton and Chilgrove.
Contents
Map of West Dean, UK
The parish has a land area of 6,136 acres (2,483 ha). The 2001 Census recorded 425 people living in 177 households, of whom 248 were economically active. The village is on the Monarch's Way long distance footpath.
West Dean is in the Lavant Valley in the South Downs has a Church of England parish church and one public house, the Selsey Arms. The church and most of the houses are built of flint, in most cases with brick quoins and window dressings.
Parish church
The Church of England parish church of Saint Andrew is a Saxon building from before the Norman conquest of England. It was badly damaged by a fire in 1934 but then sensitively restored under the direction of Frederick Etchells.
Manor
The Domesday Book of 1086 records Binderton under Sussex in the lands belonging to Earl Roger. It says:
The Earl himself holds Binderton. Countess Gytha held it. Then assessed at 7 hides but now three. There is land for four ploughs. In demesne there are two ploughs and eight villans with nine bordars with two ploughs. There are four acres of meadow and a church. TRE it was woth 100 shillings then sixty shillings, now seven pounds.
West Dean House
West Dean House is a Georgian "Gothick" country house that now houses West Dean College, a specialist college with a worldwide reputation for the study of conservation, making and visual arts. James Wyatt designed the house and it was built in 1804 for Baron Selsey of the Peachey family. After the death of the last Peachey heir it became the home of William James in 1891 and in 1893 much of the house was remodelled to designs by Ernest George and Harold Peto. His son Edward James, donated it to a charitable trust (the Edward James Foundation) in 1964 and it became a college in 1971. Peto also designed the walled gardens, which with the glasshouses and other gardens around the house are open to the public. There is also a park and arboretum.
Landmarks
Kingley Vale is on the border of the parish and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a national nature reserve. It is noted for its yew woodlands. The site is also of archaeological interest including Bronze Age and Roman earthworks, cross dykes, Goosehill Camp on Bow Hill and an ancient field system.