The site of a
Roman villa is a short distance to the southeast of the village. The
Salisbury and Southampton Canal, opened in 1802 or 1803, passed to the south of the village on the south bank of the river; it was never completed as far as Salisbury and closed in 1806. The only surviving canal bridge carries the road south from East Grimstead, near the church. In 1847 the
London and South Western Railway opened its line between
Bishopstoke in Hampshire and
Milford station at Salisbury, passing East Grimshaw to the south of the canal. The line remains open as part of the
Wessex Main Line from Salisbury to Southampton; the nearest station is , at
West Dean, about east of East Grimstead. == Church ==