Until the 19th century all four places were townships in the ancient parish of Bampton.[2] In 1866 the three civil parishes of Aston and Cote, Chimney and Shifford were separated from Bampton. In 1931 Aston and Cote and Chimney were united to form the civil parish of Aston Bampton, which was merged with Shifford in 1954 to form the parish of Aston Bampton and Shifford.[3] The parish was later renamed Aston, Cote, Shifford and Chimney.