| Ropley Dean | |
|---|---|
 The Thai House (formerly theAnchor Inn), now a steakhouse, Ropley Dean | |
  Ropley Dean Location withinHampshire | |
| OS grid reference | SU629318 |
| Civil parish | |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Police | Hampshire and Isle of Wight |
| Fire | Hampshire and Isle of Wight |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| UK Parliament | |
| 51°04′58″N1°06′11″W / 51.08279°N 1.10296°W /51.08279; -1.10296 | |
Ropley Dean alsoDene or simplyThe Dean / Dene is ahamlet in theparish ofRopley,Hampshire, England. It is 7.3 miles (11.7 km) southwest ofAlton.
North of the hamlet is the restoredrailway station on theWatercress Line. Trains from here connect with the nearest national rail station 7.3 miles (11.7 km) to the northeast, atAlton.
This Hamlet is relatively modern, prior to the later 19th century it only consisted of a couple of farms. Its name is first recorded in 1410 asL'Dene from Old Englishdenu meaning valley. The valley its name is in reference to is that which theA31 runs down.
It has been postulated that the hamlet gave its name to an older name of theRiver Alre as a record from 1447 describes the river as theDenewater.[1] The rivers current name is recorded for the first time over 100 years later in 1586.[2] Hence it is theorised thatDenewater was one of the original names for the Alre as the river used to flow further up valley, nearer to the hamlet. The valley in which Ropley Dean is situated, still floods after raining and can occasionally bear a stream.
TheAnchor Inn alsoThe Anchor was apub in Ropley Dean situated at the corner ofPetersfield Road andWinchester road open since at least the early 19th century- being first recorded in 1839.[3][4] The building itself is little older. By the end of the 20th century the pub closed and has since been home to a variety of businesses including a Thai Curry restaurant and a Steakhouse.
