 In the Domesday Book of 1086, it is named "Hanewde".Hanwood has a small combined post office and shop, a garage (but no longer a petrol station), a pub ("The Cock Inn"), and a primary school, named St. Thomas' & St. Anne's C. of E., which serves an area previously covered by schools at Cruckmeole and Lea Cross as well as Hanwood itself.There are three Royal Mail post boxes at different points along the A488 in the centre of the village.