In 869 King Ethelred granted the manor of Winterbourne to Wulfere, who later assigned it to Glastonbury Abbey: this concession was confirmed by King Edward the Elder in 928. The Domesday Book records that Orgar held the manor in 1066, which passed to Gilbert Gibard in 1086 and Hugh de Polstead in 1189; it was valued at £20. From 1195 the manor was held by Geoffrey de Maizey and his descendants; in 1261 its lordship passed to Gregory de la Mare.
In the early 13thc the suffix Monkton was used and it referred to the estate there of Glastonbury Abbey. Before 1229 it was appropriated by Cirencester Abbey (Gloucestershire) and a vicarage ordained; this ceased with the Dissolution.