240 Collections for a History of JFest Dean. 



masses of woodland beneath. From the summit of the ridge the 

 view ranges over the New Forest to the cliffs of the Isle ot Wight 

 and Southampton Water on the south, and on the north over the 

 wide expanse of fertile country between Salisbury, whose Cathedral 

 spire is visible on the west, and the valley of the Test on the east. 



Name. 

 Whether the name of Dean, called " Duene " in Domesday Book, 

 " Dune Grimsted " in the " Nomina Villarum," and subsequently 

 " Bene/' " Deone," and '' Duene," be derived from the " dene,'' or 

 valley, in which it nestles; or from the "dune," or down, which 

 overshadows it, is of little consequence. The word is said to be 

 Celtic in its origin, and to signify " a sheltered quiet spot," and 

 possibly " a boundary " besides, in which case its meaning will be 

 identical with that of Grimstead, " the village on the dyke." 



Geology. 

 The geology of the parish is of no great interest, yielding, as far 

 as I am aware, none but the commoner fossils of the chalk. In a 

 sandpit at Frenchmoor, just outside our eastern boundary, curious 

 dark-coloured nodules of sulphate of iron, which has become crys- 

 tallized around pieces of wood, or even masses of oak leaves, occur 

 at the lowest level. 



Natural History. 

 The extensive woodland, occupying nearly one-half of the entire 

 area of the parish, would be prolific, but for the " keepers " (save 

 the mark!), of many of th« rarer of our wild animals and birds. 

 As it is, the otter and the badger are found occasionally, hawks and 

 owls are numerous, the heron, dabchick, and kingfisher frequent our 

 stream ; and the hawfinch, hailing from some unknown locality in 

 the neighbourhood, brings his wife and family to our gardens when 

 the peas are ready. 



Area. 

 The acreage of West Dean, as given in the tithe map and 



