A VILLAGE history book is to be launched at West Dean Fete this Saturday (12).

The picturesque village of West Dean straddles the Hampshire/Wiltshire border.

Now its rich history has been documented and the personal memories of many villagers past and present recorded in A Brief History of West Dean.

The first part of the book includes evidence of an Iron Age settlement, a Roman villa, a Norman Motte and a monastery, through to the sale of the Norman Court Estate, which included West Dean in about 1946.

The second part of the book is given over to villagers’ personal memories, many going back a century and earlier and giving a glimpse of village life as seen through the eyes of those who lived and worked there. The book contains wonderful old photographs of village life.

Villager Jane Gimpel said: “Because the village was part of the Norman Court Estate owned by Washington Singer and the presence of the armament depot which was built just before the Second World War, development within the village was restricted and it has remained in a time warp.”

A Brief History of West Dean has been compiled by Sara Gruzelier and Jackie Impey, and will be for sale at a special fete price of £11.99 at the fete, which will be held from 2.30pm. Copies can be reserved by contacting Sara on 01794 340303.