The Manor of West Dean was in the ancient hundred of Singleton, but was not mentioned by name in the Domesday Book of 1086.

West Dean is a large Anglican parish and in 1861 extended to 2,290 acres (930 ha) of arable, pasture, and woodland with a population of 681.

[3] The Domesday Book records Binderton (Bertredtone) in the Hundred of Singleton[4] in the lands belonging to Earl Roger.

Kelly's Directory of 1867 says:Binderton is sometimes considered as a tithing of West Dean, but is a distinct chapelry, and is separately assessed in all parochial rates and taxes.

[9] Preston, now a farm between West Dean and Binderton, was considered significant enough to be included in the Domesday survey, where it was listed as having seven households: three villagers and four smallholders.

After the death of the last Peachey heir it became the home of William James in 1891 and in 1893 much of the house was remodelled to designs by Ernest George and Harold Peto.

[15] Kingley Vale is on the border of the parish and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a national nature reserve.

[16] The site is also of archaeological interest including Bronze Age and Roman earthworks, cross dykes, Goosehill Camp on Bow Hill[13] and an ancient field system.