Chalton with South Mills was in the parish of Blunham until 1866 until Moggerhanger church was built when it became a hamlet of that parish. There is another hamlet in Bedfordshire with the same name but that is in the parish of Toddington. The medieval manor, including Chalton, was known as the Manor of South Mills or Holwell's. South Mills was included in the Manor listed under the entry in the Domesday Book of 1086.

Chalton comes from the Old English 'ceorl' (peasant or freeman) and 'tun' (farm) - Peasant's Farm and was first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086; it has had a number of variations:
    * Cerlentone: 1086;
    * Cherleton: 1173-1428;
    * Cherlton: 1227;
    * Charleton: 1240-1535;
    * Chelton: 1242;
    * Chauton: 1250;
    * Chaltone: 1276-1369;
    * Chaulton: 1766.

Chalton is a flat, low-lying settlement with the River Ivel running close to the eastern boundary. As the River Great Ouse is nearby to the north and west the soil and sub-soil are principally gravel deposited on the flood plains of the rivers. Small amounts of cereals are grown with much of the land either market gardening or grazing.

Here you will find interesting and Grade II Listed buildings:
Chalton Farmhouse built 18/19 century.
Granary and dovecote at Chalton Farm, 18th century and 19th century timber framed barn

South Mills had a goods railway branch line serving the mill; it came off the Bedford to Cambridge near to Blunham station.