Pictures of Crux Easton

About Crux Easton

Crux Easton is a quiet Hampshire hamlet lying in the shadow of Beacon Hill which rises to 262ft west of the village.

It is known mainly as the place where aviation pioneer Jeffrey De Havilland first took the skies on the 10th September 1910 when he flew his plane above Seven Barrows. Jeffrey was the son of Charles De Havilland who was Rector of St.Michael's, the local parish church. The church has a memorial tablet to his memory.

Visitors looking around will note several interesting properties, the present Manor house was once Manor Farm, and there is a bungalow built by Jeffrey De Havilland as a holiday retreat.

In the middle of the village visitors can see a restored Simplex wind engine and mill house. The wind engine dates from around 1891, it is considered to be quite rare, and possibly the only one of its kind in the country. The mill house is thought to be even older.

Quiet this village may be but it has had its share of notoriety - Sir Oswald Mosley, leader of the British Fascists, lived in the village following his release from prison. The family resided in Crux Easton House, the former Rectory for about a year and a half. During Oswald Mosley's stay he was bounded by a court order which kept him within a boundary of 3.1/2 miles of the village, he was also assigned a policeman to ensure the order was kept.

This is a pleasant leafy place between Andover and Newbury, it is within easy reach of Highclere Castle and Sandham Memorial Chapel which belongs to the National Trust.