Housing in the area consists of a mixture of traditional cottages and large, newer residential properties.

Historically, farming and mining formed the chief sources of employment in the village.

Although no dating evidence was found, this is not surprising as many prehistoric sites produce very few finds.

The Romans arrived in County Durham in the 1st century and swiftly defended their newly captured territory by building a series of forts and connecting them with a network of roads.

It is thought that the course of Dere Street ran through this area connecting the forts such as Binchester with Hadrian's Wall.

The Roman road of Dere Street, locally following the route of the A691 from Consett and Leadgate onward to Lanchester and Durham, passes through the south of the village.