The village is very small and is mostly made up of dwellings that house Royal Air Force personnel who work at the adjacent RAF Cosford.

Brewer's Dictionary of Britain & Ireland suggests that the name originates from the Old English of Cost, which means Excellent (Ford).

[2] It lies between the town of Shifnal and the large village of Albrighton, in the parish of Donington.

This is the local name as it remains Ruckley Brook and upon reaching Cosford Bridge on the A464 it becomes the River Worfe.

The base itself is built on former farmland, with the outdoor athletics arena being on the site of Sydnal Farm's buildings.