There were prehistoric settlements on the Downs, and from Saxon times substantial village settlements below the escarpment. Within the Vale of White Horse District, the parish extends from the low ground near the main railway to a point called Hendred Knoll on the West Ilsley to Farnborough road and includes Cuckhamsley Hill known locally as Scutchamer Knob or even Scotchman's Knob. This knob adjacent to the ancient pre Roman road the Ridgeway once tree covered is thought to be early Iron Age and for many years was believed to be the burial ground of King Cwichelm of Wessex (593). The mound has been excavated several times without serious finds, during the 1939-45 war the trees were cut down to make landing safer for the Wellington aircraft stationed at Chilton aerodrome which is now more familiarly known as the Harwell Laboratory and Business Centre.

The Ridgeway is about 2 miles south of the village and is an ancient roadway of national economic importance; is now a pleasure ground for walker's riders and sightseers as well as an access route for farm vehicles. Included in the Wantage Hundred in early times, known as Great Hendred in 1761, the name of the village is said to come from Hennarid (AD 956) with later modifications, Henret (1086) translated as 'Stream frequented by wild birds' the small brook which runs through the village has sometimes been referred to as the Humber. East Hendred is built on the 300-foot contour south of the Portway. In more modern times since 1945 the population centre of the village has changed with the building of many homes to the north of the central spine. The main village entry being the White Road leading to High Street and the Conservation Area.

The early importance of the village was thought to be the 14th to 16th century when the wool trade was in full swing but this village has a history of unusual interest, much chronicled. It is arranged around five manors and today is conveniently of the main A417. Hendred House, Manor of Arches, history traces back even before permission to build it's private Chapel was given by the Pope in 1256. The same family, Eyston, have lived there since 1443.

The little Chapel of Jesus of Bethlehem was built by the Carthusian monks of Sheen when they came to the nearby Kings Manor in the 15th Century. For many years after the dissolution the Stewardship of that manor was an office of profit under the Crown and thus could be compared with the Chiltern Hundreds. The advent of two world wars has changed agricultural practices in this country as well as others. The effect on a basically agricultural community was intense, some of our residents were persuaded that better opportunities were available overseas, many had to leave the the land for other industries. The motor industry came to the area and then other technologies developed. Today the emphasis is on the sciences and electronics with much greater flexibility in the source of employment. People with extensive talents and skills are involved in many occupations within and outside the village. Their homes too have developed accordingly. An interesting mix of the old an the new has been maintained. Less farm animals perhaps and more motorcars but people and children of all sorts.

Still true today is James Edmund Vincent's comment, made a century ago in 'Highways and Byways of Berkshire',

"East Hendred is a village of no ordinary attraction"

Recent Village Statistics (1991 census)