[2] A Roman road from Clausentum (a fortified harbour in what is now Bitterne, Southampton) passed through the area on route to Portus Adurni (Portchester Castle) and Noviomagus Reginorum (Chichester).

[3] That area is towards the bottom of the hill that rises up to Netley Common and is rich with natural streams and springs.

Prior to the Erection of Cottages Act 1588, an Englishman could build his house on common land if he could raise the roof over his head and have a fire in the hearth between sunrise and sunset and claim the dwelling as his home.

That procedure and the presence of a reliable water supply would have allowed a few dwellings to become established on Botley Common from 1250 onwards.

[3] The development of two new roads to serve the toll bridges at Northam and Woolston brought travellers closer to Hedge End.

To avoid the air-raids, some of Southampton's citizens rented accommodation or otherwise sought shelter in Hedge End during World War II.

[10] Hedge End was situated within Regulated Area (No 2) established 31 March 1944,[9] which placed restrictions on the movement of people in the final build-up to D-Day.

[9] A V-1 flying bomb fell on HMS Cricket, a military camp just outside Hedge End on 15 July 1944.

With access to the new infrastructure, there was rapid expansion of the village with office parks, out-of-town superstores and new residential areas.

The most recent major development in Hedge End has been that of Grange Park, situated to the north and east of the village centre.

In the early 1990s the village gained Hedge End railway station opened by British Rail, a stop on the Eastleigh to Fareham line.

On 21 May 2011 Marwell Wildlife was called in by Hampshire Constabulary to advise how to tranquillise a white tiger lurking in grass in the village.

[14] The nearby village of Botley was better established than Hedge End, but when the M27 was built, living close to the new motorway became more desirable.

A community theatre/cinema called The Berry Theatre has been built at Wildern School with support from Eastleigh Borough Council.

Other events throughout the year include a Senior Citizens' lunch in October, open to all pensioners in Hedge End; a Fireworks Fiesta and Fun Fair in November; and quiz nights.

Skyline used to broadcast from studios in the Old School House in St. Johns Road, which was provided at no cost by Hedge End Town Council.

In October 2023 Hedge End Town Council decided to no longer support the station which was forced to move to a premises in neighbouring Botley.

It also has a recently renovated sports centre which serves the local community with a hall, indoor heated swimming pool, toddlers' swimming pool, gym facilities and a dance studio as well as a £250,000 Multi Use Games Area (MUGA), an all-weather surface similar to Astroturf.

King Copse Primary School is also in Hedge End, located near the Cranbourne Park area.

Actor Robin Nedwell, best known for his roles in Shillingbury Tales and Doctor in the House used to live at Hedge End until his death in 1999.