Before the early part of the 20th century and the coming of the giant  Esso refinery the local roads were nearly all unmade and some of them had gates across to keep out the New Forest Ponies, these have now been replaced by 'cattle grids' and a lot of the roads have been widened to cope with modern day transport. Years ago though the main form of transport in the area were the carriers cart that would ferry people to Hythe every week to catch the 10am ferry across to Southampton.

The post office also doubled as a general store, and there were two local baker shops, the butcher and fishmonger as well as the baker used to do their deliveries by horse and car but now the car has taken its place and most people drive to the local supermarkets or into the nearest towns to do their weekly shopping thus killing off the local trade.

There is a lovely little walk through the forest to nearby Exbury which is the home of the famous Exbury Gardens and where some of the worlds finest Azaleas and Rhododendrons can be seen and bought.

Though village life here has change since the AGWI (now the giant Exxon conglomerate)  moved in during the 1920s and it was then that the first immigrants to the area or "They furrenors or grockels arrived, (Foreigners) but despite the hesitancy of the local people they also brought in everyday amenities such as gas, water, electricity and metalled roads which have made life a lot easier the Road through may seem to lead to nowhere in particular but Blackfield will never be a dead end.