Besselsleigh was held by the Abbey of Abingdon before and after the Conquest. In 1066 Northmann held it from the abbot, and in 1086 William held in from the abbot. It was assessed at 1 hide. Subsequently the tenant took his name from the Lordship. hence in 1166 and 1180 it was William de Leigh. The church was apparently treated as a chapel of Appleton in the 12thc, but by 1291 it was a parish church in its own right.