It is notable as including substantial remains of an abandoned village including an extant ridge and furrow field system and became a scheduled monument in 1957.

It was formerly part of the extra-parochial chapelry of Garmondsway Moor due to its ownership by Sherburn Hospital.

King Canute (1017–1035) reportedly walked five miles barefoot from Garmondsway to Durham Cathedral on pilgrimage, and gave the church a large estate around Staindrop and Gainford.

It is derived from the personal-name Garmund + weg ("a road").

This County Durham location article is a stub.