Medomsley is about 778 feet (237 m) above sea level, atop a hill overlooking the Derwent Valley.

The sword-makers of Shotley Bridge were frequent visitors of the church, and the parish registers record many of these events.

[citation needed] The antiquarian and physician Christopher Hunter (1675–1757) was born at Medomsley Hall.

[6] It was also known as the Busty pit, and is not to be confused with South Medomsley Colliery near Annfield Plain.

[11] There is just one tier of local government covering Medomsley, being the unitary authority of Durham County Council.

Hassockfield youth detention centre is on a 33 acres (13 ha) site on the edge of Medomsley.

The site was previously Medomsley Detention Centre, where some staff sexually and physically abused thousands of boys in the 1970s and 80s.