At the time of the Domesday Survey (1086) the land of Gidding seems to have consisted of two parts – (1) 10 hides, now comprising Great and Little Gidding, held by William Engaine (4½ hides), Eustace the Sheriff (4½ hides) and the Abbot of Ramsey (1 hide), and (2) 7½ hides, now consisting Steeple Gidding held by the Abbot of Ramsey.

The one hide held by the Abbot of Ramsey in 1086 was held from him by Lunen. It afterwards became known as Gidding Moynes or Clarevaux Manor.

An unidentified manor, called Bradenache, appears to have been in or near (Great) Gidding it had been granted by Ramsey Abbey, before 1130, to William de Houghton, chamberlain to King Henry1, and between 1133 and 1135 William granted it back to the Abbey, together with one hide in Great Gidding, which was held with it, and the grant was confirmed by King Henry1.

In 1139 Pope Innocent 111 confirmed to the monks ‘Bradenache’, which the said King (Henry 1) granted to them. Apparently the Abbey lost this land in the time of King Stephen, for Abbot Walter is stated to have recovered it, and King Henry 11 again confirmed it.

In 1066 the single hide at Gidding (Little or Great) was valued at 30s, whilst the 7½ hides were valued at 100s. (Ref 25)