The earliest mentions of the village of Hett date to 1168 and 1335. The name of Hett comes from the Old English word meaning hat, given the shape and markings of the slight hill on which the village stands. Little is known about the early history of the area. It is only in the medieval period that we begin to know more about the area. Particularly important is a medieval charter that was written in 1451. It recorded that two boundary stones marked with a cross should be put up in the village, although no signs of these stones survives today. The charter also recorded a medieval mill. Although the remains of a mill race can be seen nearby, it is probably of post-medieval date. An early document also recorded that there was a coal pit at Hett, although its precise location is not known. Coal mining has been important throughout the history of Hett. In 1966 opencast coal mining in Hett cut into the remains of a possible 18th century coal mine. The remains may even be older, but there was no firm dating evidence from this site.

Originally five farm houses and one church were built around the village green but now most of the land has been built on and only three of the original farms remain. The oldest farmhouse, Slashpool House, dates to 1708.