The following has been taken from the History Gazetteer & Directory of Cambridgeshire including the Isle of Ely, Printed & Published by Robert Gardener in 1851.signed by John Drage Camps, Haddenham, 1864.

Chippenham Parish.

This Parish contains 4,500 acres, its population in 1801 was 525, in 1831 665, and in 1841 666 Souls. The amount of assessed property is £3.347. John Tharp Esq. is the Principle Landowner.
Manor- In the reign of the Confessor, the Manor belonged to Orgar the Sheriff, and in the following reign, the Conqueror granted it to Geoffery De Mandeville. His Son William De Mandiville gave it in 1184 to the Knights Templars With whom it continued till the abolition of the order, when it passed with most of their estates to the Hospitalers, who established an infirmary and preceptory here, and possessed the Manor until the general Dissolution of Religious Houses in the reign of Henry VIII. In 1550 it was granted in fee farm to Sir Edward North, Sir Thomas Revett died seized of it in 1582, leaving no male issue, and it was carried in marriage by his Granddaughter to the Russell Family. When King Charles I, was at Newmarket during the Civil War, he frequently came over to Chippenham and partook of the diversion of bowling at the Seat of Sir William Russell, who seems to have retained his attachment to his Royal Master, notwithstanding his Son Sir Francis was an active Friend of the Parliament. From this Family the Manor of Chippenham passed by purchase, to the brave Admiral Russell, Nephew of the Duke of Bedford, who, for his splendid victory of La Hogue, was created Barron Shengay, and Earl of Orford. This noble Admiral built a magnificent Mansion here where he entertained King George I, on the 4th October 1717. Chippenham, was afterwards successively in the Families of Sandys, Crisp, Molyneux, Montgomery, and Smith, and in 1790, Mr Smith sold it to John Tharp Esq. The Monastery of Chicksand in Bedfordshire, had a grange and estate here. The Templars procured a charter in the reign of Henry III. for a Market here on Monday's, and a Fair for two days at Michaelmas, both of which have been long discontinued.
The Village of Chippenham, which is a neat and very rural, is about 5 miles Northeast from Newmarket, and the same distance Southwest from Mildenhall.
The Church, dedicated to St Margaret is a neat structure, consisting of a Nave, Side Aisles, and Chapels, South Porch, Chancel and Square Tower, containing 5 bells, a handsome gothic screen, of the ancient rood loft, is still in the Chancel Arch, and there are Monuments here to Sir Thomas Revett, and the Wife of Sir Samuel Knight, Author of '' The Life of Erasmus '' who was Vicar of the Parish. This Church was destroyed by fire about the middle of the 15th Century. The Living is a discharged Vicarage in the Deanery of Fordham, rated in the K.B. at £11. 12s. 6d, but now worth £240 nett per annum. John Tharp Esq. is Patron, and the Rev. Augustus James Tharp M.A. the present Vicar. Land was allotted in lieu of tithes, at the enclosure in 1791.
The Vicarage House, which stands near the Church, is a neat new red brick building in the Elizabethan style. There is a small Dissenting Chapel in the Village. The School which is a large ancient looking building, was built by Lord Orford, and endowed by him, with £20 per annum, to which other gifts are added, which raises it to £40 per annum.
Chippenham Hall, the seat of John Tharp Esq., was built as a hunting box by Mr Smith, on the site of the noble Mansion of Lord Orford, which was pulled down and the materials sold in 1790. It is situated in a fine, well wooded park, 4 miles in circumference. The entrance to the park forms a pleasing termination to the Village.
Badlingham is a Hamlet containing an ancient Moated Farm house (The Hall), and some cottages about 1 mile Northeast from the Village, on the extreme verge of the County. It is probable that there was once a Chapel here, as the Vicarage has been sometimes styled Chippenham-cum-Badlingham. The Manor is annexed to that of Chippenham.

Gentry &c.
Tharp Rev. A.J., M.A. Vicar.
Tharp John Esq., Chippenham Hall.
Tharp Joseph Sidney Esq., The Cottage.

Farmers.
Kent Lewis, Hogg Hall.
Kent Philip, Water Hall.
Kent T, Badlingham Hall.
Newport Thomas.
Rust Charles.
Wiseman Henry.

Traders.
Baynes George, Publican, Hope.
Benstead John, Wheelwright.
Duffell Benjamin, Shoemaker.
Goldstone C, Schoolmaster.
Harris William, Watchmaker.
Holcomb Anthony, Steward.
Holcomb George, Tailor.
Howard James, Butcher.
Howell Charles, Blacksmith.
Middleditch John, Butcher.
Pledger John, Shoemaker.
Reynolds William, Miller.
Taylor John, Beer Retailer.
Turner Joseph, Draper & Grocer.

Letters are received through the Mildenhall Post Office.