In 1186 the Domesday Book| recorded that William Speke held 7 hides| and 3 virgates| of land in Chawston, whilst Eudo, son of Hugh held 1 hide and 1 virgate. These holdings had, as overlords in the mid 13th century William de Roos and Richard de Beauchamp respectively. By 1290 the two families are noted as being dual overlords of Chawston Manor but soon afterwards the sole overlord was stated to be the family of de Roos of Hamlake. The holder of the manor itself, as tenant of its overlord, from 1290 to 1302 was William de Kirkeby, who had been preceded by his brother John, Bishop of Ely, earlier holders in the 13th century being Richard de Beauchamp and Ralf Ridel.

The Manor of Chawston is first named as such at William de Kirkeby's death in 1302 and his four sisters were co-heirs but the manor remained with his widow Christine, who sold it in 1316 to Oliver Calverly. In 1343 the owner was Thomas Swathyng, John Corner of Norfolk owning it n the 1380s, selling it to John Fage in 1383. MP for Bedfordshire Robert or Roger Hunt held the manor in 1414 and his son, Speaker of the House of Commons and Baron of the Exchequer, succeeded him, his son Roger died seised of the manor in 1518. It was the Hunt family that held the manor, or parts of it for the next three centuries, the last named owner being spinster Mary Hunt in 1705. The Metcalfe family became owners shortly afterwards and the manor remained in their hands, along with the Manor of Roxton. The manors were sold to Rev.Robert Delap of Ireland around 1850 and the Delap family continued to hold them into the twentieth century.

The manor house, as opposed to the organisational unit, does not date back to 1186 but it is still old, it is Grade II Listed and at the time of its listing in 1964 the Department of Environment architect considered it 17th century. What probably does date back to at least 1186 is the moat around the house. At least eighteen of these have been identified in the Great Ouse valley at such places as Bolnhurst, Carlton, Eaton Socon, Sharnbrook and Tempsford.