The village is mentioned twice in the Domesday Book of 1086, as "Hotun" in the Bulford hundred. Before the Norman invasion the manor was split between several land owners. Those named included "Ligulf", "Northmann", "Thorkil", "Thorsten" and "Thorulf". Afterwards some of the land was retained by the Crown and other portions given to Count Robert of Mortain who installed Sir Nigel Fossard as lord of the manor. Soon after this, the land was in the possession of the Bulmer family. Bertram de Bulmer built the first castle in the village during the reign of King Stephen. After the civil war between Stephen and Matilda, the castle and manor were seized by the Crown before being held for the king by the Mauley family. The manor eventually came into the possession of the Neville family in the 14th century until 1480, when it was surrendered to the Crown. Various grants of land were made up to the 17th century when possession is recorded as belonging to Sir Thomas Ingram. The Ingram family, by way of various marriages, maintained lordship until 1904, when it passed to Hon. Edward Frederick Lindley Wood.