Nestled in the Lavant Valley at the foot of the South Downs, West Dean is a picturesque village, set within a scenic part of West Sussex.
Surrounded by rolling chalk hills, ancient woodland and open farmland, the village offers people looking for a countryside day trip the chance to walk and explore whilst taking in some of the sights of the village.
West Dean features traditional flint buildings, a Royal footpath and includes the former home of an ex British prime minister in the 1950s.
Many of the buildings, including the church and village houses, are built from local flint with brick detailing, creating a chocolate-box village appearance.
With its quiet lanes, wide skies and open downland, West Dean offers a classic Sussex village experience while also serving as a gateway to some of the county’s best-loved attractions.
West Dean’s history dates back more than a thousand years, even though the village itself is not mentioned by name in the Domesday Book of 1086.
One of the village’s most historic buildings is the Church of St Andrew, a Saxon church dating from before the Norman Conquest.
Despite suffering serious fire damage in 1934, the church was carefully restored and remains a focal point of village life today.
Another key historic property is Binderton House, a 17th-century Grade II listed building which was once home to former prime minister Sir Anthony Eden.
Towering over the village and its surroundings is West Dean House, a flint-faced manor redesigned in the early 19th century by architect James Wyatt.
The house later became the home of Edward James, a patron of the arts, before being gifted to a charitable trust and transformed into West Dean College in 1971.
The college has courses in conservation, arts and crafts, and the house itself is Grade II* listed, along with its gardens and parkland.
If you’re looking to explore a bit of the outdoors, the award-winning West Dean Gardens are offer something to see throughout the year.
Open to the public for most of the year, the gardens feature a restored walled kitchen garden complete with 13 working Victorian glasshouses, a sunken garden, spring-fed ponds and a 300-foot Edwardian pergola designed by Harold Peto.
Beyond the gardens, visitors can explore the nearby Weald and Downland Living Museum, an open-air museum showcasing historic buildings rescued from across Sussex and beyond.
After a day of sightseeing, you can stop off at the village’s sole pub, The Selsey Arms, a historic boozer dating back to the 19th century serving up a seasonal menu, local ales along with offering rooms to stay if you’re looking to spend the night.
West Dean is also a haven for walkers and nature lovers thanks to its position on the Monarch’s Way, a long-distance footpath that traces the escape route taken by King Charles II after his defeat at the Battle of Worcester in 1651.
Today you can retrace his steps on the route, passing West Dean Woods and Kingley Vale.
In spring, millions of wild daffodils carpet the woodland floors around West Dean Woods.
Nestled in the Lavant Valley at the foot of the South Downs, West Dean is a picturesque village, set within a scenic part of West Sussex.
Surrounded by rolling chalk hills, ancient woodland and open farmland, the village offers people looking for a countryside day trip the chance to walk and explore whilst taking in some of the sights of the village.
West Dean features traditional flint buildings, a Royal footpath and includes the former home of an ex British prime minister in the 1950s.
Many of the buildings, including the church and village houses, are built from local flint with brick detailing, creating a chocolate-box village appearance.
With its quiet lanes, wide skies and open downland, West Dean offers a classic Sussex village experience while also serving as a gateway to some of the county’s best-loved attractions.
West Dean’s history dates back more than a thousand years, even though the village itself is not mentioned by name in the Domesday Book of 1086.
One of the village’s most historic buildings is the Church of St Andrew, a Saxon church dating from before the Norman Conquest.
Despite suffering serious fire damage in 1934, the church was carefully restored and remains a focal point of village life today.
Another key historic property is Binderton House, a 17th-century Grade II listed building which was once home to former prime minister Sir Anthony Eden.
Towering over the village and its surroundings is West Dean House, a flint-faced manor redesigned in the early 19th century by architect James Wyatt.
The house later became the home of Edward James, a patron of the arts, before being gifted to a charitable trust and transformed into West Dean College in 1971.
The college has courses in conservation, arts and crafts, and the house itself is Grade II* listed, along with its gardens and parkland.
If you’re looking to explore a bit of the outdoors, the award-winning West Dean Gardens are offer something to see throughout the year.
Open to the public for most of the year, the gardens feature a restored walled kitchen garden complete with 13 working Victorian glasshouses, a sunken garden, spring-fed ponds and a 300-foot Edwardian pergola designed by Harold Peto.
Beyond the gardens, visitors can explore the nearby Weald and Downland Living Museum, an open-air museum showcasing historic buildings rescued from across Sussex and beyond.
After a day of sightseeing, you can stop off at the village’s sole pub, The Selsey Arms, a historic boozer dating back to the 19th century serving up a seasonal menu, local ales along with offering rooms to stay if you’re looking to spend the night.
West Dean is also a haven for walkers and nature lovers thanks to its position on the Monarch’s Way, a long-distance footpath that traces the escape route taken by King Charles II after his defeat at the Battle of Worcester in 1651.
Today you can retrace his steps on the route, passing West Dean Woods and Kingley Vale.
In spring, millions of wild daffodils carpet the woodland floors around West Dean Woods.
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