East Dean

East Dean was the home to my ancestors of the Surnames NORRELL, WILD, KENNETT, TILL for over 300 years. The village seems to have changed little over the years and the 1880 street plan from Old Maps gave us enough detail to find our way around.

Church of All Saints, East Dean

"The present church at east Dean dates from about 1150A.D. But Christian worship must date from long before that in East Dean. There is the mention of East Dean as early as 689. At one of the Deans Asser met Kind Alfred. The devout King would certainly have built a place for Mass to which he went daily.
The porch is modern but covers a fine arch of about 1200A.D. Traces of archways into a North aisle, perhaps never completed - made about 1250 but later blocked up can be seen inside and out. The tower, chancel and transepts are the oldest part (1150). The tower once supported a spire. The first known Rector was instituted in 1180."
(Source: exerpts from 'Guide to Churches - Blessed Virgin Mary Singleton; St Andrew West Dean; All Saints East Dean. Purchased from the Church)

View from the path up to the church

 

 

Interior - looking down the aisle to the Altar

Interior - notice the bricked up arch on the left of the picture

 

This photograph is entitled 'Choir and Clergy 1899' Names of interest to my research were William KENNETT (back row far right), Leonard NORRELL (front row far left), Adolphus NORRELL (front row far right)