William the Conqueror gave the heiress as bride to one of his knights, Sir Richard Bertram, who thus acquired the barony.

At that time the territory stretched from Chopwell south of the River Tyne to an area in the Coquet Valley west of Rothbury.

This historic status of the two market town led to a folk rhyme: The village lies within the Longhorsley Division of Northumberland County Council, represented since May 2013 by Cllr Glen Sanderson (Conservative) (2008–13 by Cllr David Towns, also Conservative) and the Wansbeck parliamentary constituency (Ian Lavery MP, Labour).

Mitford Castle was built in timber in the 11th century by William Bertram, and his son Roger was given permission to rebuild in stone in 1166.

The ancient church of St Mary Magdalene was rebuilt in 1875, but has preserved its Norman south arcade and 13th-century chancel.