diff --git a/mutable_buffer/src/chunk.rs b/mutable_buffer/src/chunk.rs
index 1bec696cc7..243a642913 100644
--- a/mutable_buffer/src/chunk.rs
+++ b/mutable_buffer/src/chunk.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ use crate::{
     column::{self, Column},
 };
 use arrow::record_batch::RecordBatch;
+use chrono::{DateTime, Utc};
 use data_types::partition_metadata::{ColumnSummary, InfluxDbType, TableSummary};
 use entry::{Sequence, TableBatch};
 use hashbrown::HashMap;
@@ -86,6 +87,15 @@ pub struct MBChunk {
     /// Note: This is a mutex to allow mutation within
     /// `Chunk::snapshot()` which only takes an immutable borrow
     snapshot: Mutex<Option<Arc<ChunkSnapshot>>>,
+
+    /// Time at which the first data was written into this chunk. Note
+    /// this is not the same as the timestamps on the data itself
+    time_of_first_write: DateTime<Utc>,
+
+    /// Most recent time at which data write was initiated into this
+    /// chunk. Note this is not the same as the timestamps on the data
+    /// itself
+    time_of_last_write: DateTime<Utc>,
 }
 
 impl MBChunk {
@@ -98,11 +108,15 @@ impl MBChunk {
     ) -> Result<Self> {
         let table_name = Arc::from(batch.name());
 
+        let now = Utc::now();
+
         let mut chunk = Self {
             table_name,
             columns: Default::default(),
             metrics,
             snapshot: Mutex::new(None),
+            time_of_first_write: now,
+            time_of_last_write: now,
         };
 
         let columns = batch.columns();
@@ -138,6 +152,7 @@ impl MBChunk {
             .expect("concurrent readers/writers to MBChunk") = None;
 
         self.metrics.memory_bytes.set(self.size());
+        self.time_of_last_write = Utc::now();
 
         Ok(())
     }
@@ -443,11 +458,29 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn writes_table_3_batches() {
+        let before_creation = Utc::now();
         let lp = vec!["cpu,host=a val=23 1", "cpu,host=b val=2 1"].join("\n");
         let mut chunk = write_lp_to_new_chunk(&lp).unwrap();
+        let after_creation = Utc::now();
+
+        // There was only one write so far, so first and last write times should be equal
+        let first_write = chunk.time_of_first_write;
+        assert_eq!(first_write, chunk.time_of_last_write);
+
+        assert!(before_creation < first_write);
+        assert!(first_write < after_creation);
 
         let lp = vec!["cpu,host=c val=11 1"].join("\n");
         write_lp_to_chunk(&lp, &mut chunk).unwrap();
+        let after_write = Utc::now();
+
+        // Now the first and last times should be different
+        assert_ne!(chunk.time_of_first_write, chunk.time_of_last_write);
+        // The first write time should not have been updated
+        assert_eq!(chunk.time_of_first_write, first_write);
+        // The last write time should have been updated
+        assert!(after_creation < chunk.time_of_last_write);
+        assert!(chunk.time_of_last_write < after_write);
 
         let lp = vec!["cpu,host=a val=14 2"].join("\n");
         write_lp_to_chunk(&lp, &mut chunk).unwrap();
@@ -469,6 +502,8 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn test_summary() {
+        let before_write = Utc::now();
+
         let lp = r#"
             cpu,host=a val=23 1
             cpu,host=b,env=prod val=2 1
@@ -477,7 +512,16 @@ mod tests {
         "#;
         let chunk = write_lp_to_new_chunk(&lp).unwrap();
 
+        let after_write = Utc::now();
+
+        // There was only one write, so first and last write times should be equal
+        assert_eq!(chunk.time_of_first_write, chunk.time_of_last_write);
+
+        assert!(before_write < chunk.time_of_first_write);
+        assert!(chunk.time_of_first_write < after_write);
+
         let summary = chunk.table_summary();
+
         assert_eq!(
             summary,
             TableSummary {