Gunnhildr was a common Viking female name, notably in the family of King Cnut,[2] and could be shortened to Gunni.

[5] The significance of the river crossing at Gunthorpe is indicated by the presence of a buried earthwork of 53m diameter surrounded by a ditch and bank, believed to be a “henge”, a ceremonial centre from the late Neolithic or early Bronze Age (2800-2000 BC).

From the nearest fort at Margidunum near Bingham, a road led to a ford across the river at what is now East Bridgford but there is no evidence of any continuation on the Gunthorpe side.

It had 52 households, compared to 165 in Nottingham, 39 in Newark and 3 in Lowdham, putting Gunthorpe among the largest 20% of recorded settlements.

[11] A ferry boat across the river at Gunthorpe existed since before the Norman conquest, as mentioned in the Domesday Book and several Medieval and later references.

[12] In the Late Middle Ages, Gunthorpe’s status declined compared to the neighbouring villages of Lowdham and East Bridgford, which had roads and churches on higher ground above the river floodplain.

It suffered from vandalism and theft, and stones from it appear to form the foundations of the cottage opposite (now No 37 Main Street).

The associated weir created deeper water in the river allowing the passage of larger barges to Nottingham.

[citation needed] A new concrete bridge over the river was completed in 1927, served by a by-pass road whose embankment used the spoil from the lock excavation.

[17] Gunthorpe's Anglican church, St John the Baptist's, was originally a chapel of ease built in 1850.

[18] Gunthorpe Church of England Primary School is in David's Lane just off Main Street.

[19][20] The school was established in 1873[15] in a riverfront building now occupied by Tom Brown’s restaurant and moved to the present site in 1974.