Formerly a rich wool town and market town, Dedham is now still a flourishing
commercial village, housing a post office, butcher, Co-op, grocer,
delicatessen, art shop and various other shops. Agriculture is also important
with mainly arable land (sugar beet and wheat) but also cattle grazing on the
water meadows and some sheep on Grove Hill. There is an industrial estate near
the A12, the main road which passes through the west of the village. A business
centre and nursing home have recently opened
