The village of Hinton Waldrist has its origins in Saxon times. Just prior to the Norman conquest of 1066, records show two Saxon estates at Hinton, the larger of which was around 1,200 acres held by one Ulwen.

By the time of the Domesday survey in 1087, these estates had passed into the hands of Odo of Winchester, but were later forfeited and given by William the Conqueror to Bernard II de St Valery. This family gave its name to the village, which became Hinton St Valery, written in Latin as Hinton Walericus. This later became corrupted to Hinton Waldrist.

The St Valery family constructed a motte and bailey castle on the site of what is now Hinton Manor. Little now remains of this building, but the moat is still visible in the grounds of the manor.

In 1327, Hinton Manor passed into the control of the then King of England, Edward III, who leased it to the de Bohun family. In the latter part of the 14th century, Hinton Manor was occupied by Marie de Bohun, mother of King Henry V. It was at about this time that the hall which subsequently became The Old Rectory was built.

From 1627-1653, Hinton Manor was the home of Henry Marten, a very prominent figure during the Civil War. Marten was among the eighteen who, with Oliver Cromwell, signed the death warrant on King Charles I in 1649. When the monarchy was restored in 1660, Marten surrendered to King Charles II and spent the rest of his life imprisoned in Chepstow castle.

The Norman church that still stands today in Hinton Waldrist was constructed in 1250.