Dunton can be found at the western edge of Basildon Borough.

 

Dunton was listed in the Domesday Book as Dantuna. The name Dunton is Saxon, meaning ‘hill town’.

 

Small parcels of land in Dunton were sold in the late 1800's and early 1900's to Londoners as weekend, or holiday homes. Many moved in to these homes during the war.

 

The Dunton plotlands started appearing in the 1930's. One of these plotland homes, The Haven, has been preserved as the Plotlands Museum near the Langdon Visitors Centre. It's a real eye-opener to see the way people lived in our town all those years ago.

 

Dunton is home to Dunton Wayletts Farmhouse and Friern Manor. Wayletts, is a Grade II listed building built during the 16th Century. Friern Manor was built during the 18th century and stands on Lower Dunton Road.

 

Southfields Farm, built in the early 1700's, once stood where Ford's Test Track is today.  The farm was pulled down in the late 50's or early 60's, prior to the test centre opening in 1967.  It is now remembered in the name of the Southfields Industrial Estate.

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During 1574 Dunton resident Anne Brewer was accused of witchcraft.  Unfortunately there are no details of what the accusation was made for or what the outcome was.

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