Colesden, first recorded in 1195 means Col's Valley from an Anglo-Saxon personal name and the word "denu". Until 1 Apr 2007 Colesden formed a part of the ancient parish| of Roxton but since then has formed part of the new civil parish| of Wyboston, Chawston and Colesden.

Colesden Manor was first recorded in 1410 and was in the same overlordship as Roxton. Joan, wife of Richard Boltere conveyed the manor in that year to Thomas Martin and Thomas Englysshe, whose daughter married John Radewell. She died in 1444 and the manor passed to her son Thomas Radewell who died in the same year at which point Henry Englysshe inherited the manor. In 1472 the manor was granted by John Dundin to John FitzJeffrey who died seized of it in 1480. The FitzJeffrey family still owned the manor in 1546 when it was sold to John, Lord Mordaunt. After this the manor followed the same descent as the Manor of Roxton.

Colesden has never been a large place and is, today, a scatter of farms and private dwellings. It once contained a beerhouse| called The Beehive |but this is no longer open.