[1] The village is known for the scenic valley section of the River Greta known as Brignall Banks, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

[4] The village was recorded in the Domesday Book (1086) as a settlement in the hundred of land of Alan Rufus in the county of Yorkshire.

[5] The village had: At the upper tier of local government, Brignall is in the County Durham unitary authority.

For elections to Durham County Council, it is part of the Barnard Castle East electoral ward.

The area features in Sir Walter Scott’s 1813 poem 'Rokeby': "Oh Brignal banks are wild and fair/ and Greta woods are green".