The village continued to grow during the second half of the 20th century, becoming a large suburb, contiguous with Anlaby and Willerby.

The large gardens in much of the village contribute to a wide variety of native and non-native trees and bushes, and thriving wildlife.

[3] The civil parish is located at the north-western edge of the suburbs of Kingston upon Hull, within the East Riding of Yorkshire.

[7][3] The parish covers an area of 523.715 hectares (1,294+1⁄8 acres),[8] and is situated at heights of between 10 and 60 m (35 and 195 ft) above sea level, rising east to west.

[10] There is some evidence for human activity in the area as far back as the Bronze Age – bronze axes have been discovered in the area,[13][14] pottery from the Roman period has also been found,[15] and an Iron Age enclosure visible as cropmarks has been found halfway between the village and Swanland.

[16] After the Norman conquest the village was the property of Ralph de Mortimer, as part of the manor of Ferriby.

Much of the structure is of square rubble; the tower is of limestone ashlar; the upper part of the chancel is of rendered brick.

Other alterations took place in 1886–87 to the chancel north wall and arch; 1890, clerestory windows; 1894 choir vestry, enlarged 1955–56.

[22] By the 17th century lands in Kirk Ella had become the property of several persons including Ralph Ellerker of Risby; George Whitmore; and John Anlaby of Etton.

[25] Most of the early movement of Hull merchants was into residences on Church Lane: Richard Williamson, Hull merchant acquired land and built a house at No.4 Church Lane sometime after 1730,[26][27] The Old Hall was rebuilt 1760, probably by Edward Burrow who acquired the property from another Hull merchant Thomas Haworth 1759;[26][28][29] Thomas Bell built The Elms (demolished, the associated early 19th century Elm Lodge remains);[30][29] and William Mowld established Wolfreton Hall in the same period, both on Church Lane,[31] (Wolfreton Hall was later expanded, refronted in white brick and divided into Wolfreton Grange, and Wolfreton Hall);[32][30][29] Kirk Ella House was built c. 1778.

[35][36] Wolfreton House was built c. 1810/15 on the road to Beverley, east of the village centre, the associated stable block also dates to the late 18th/early 19th century.

[37][38][39][40] Other merchants had dwellings on Godman's Lane, now demolished;[41] and on Packman Lane: Kirk Ella Hall, a 7 bay yellow-grey brick two storey building in a Tuscan style, was built (1778–79) for William Kirkby, Hull solicitor and white lead manufacturer, by expansion from a pre-existing house.

[45] Other building developments in the 19th century included an infants school (No.11 Packman Lane, 1838, enlarged 1990s); and the Wheatsheaf Inn, rebuilt in 1870 in a Tudor revival style,[46] in the 1850s, The Anchor.

[54] In the post Second World War period further, during the 1950s to 1960s housing growth of a similar type took place, including new streets and estates on The Vale and South Ella Way off Mill Lane and at Wolfreton Garth.

Kirk Ella has three pubs (The Wheatsheaf, The Beech Tree and The Lounge), a post office, newsagents and several hairdressers and beauty parlours.