[4] Historically in the West Riding of Yorkshire, the village sits at the southern edge of the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

[5] The name Nesfield derives from a mixture of Old English and Old Norse; Neates-feld, which means Open land where cattle were kept.

[6][7] However, the history of the settlement predates the Domesday Book as to the west of the village is the remains of Castleberg, an Iron Age or Roman fortified location.

[8][9] The site is 400 feet (120 m) above sea level, and is thought to have attracted early settlers as the ground around Castleberg falls away from the raised patch of land in all directions, so being naturally defensive.

[18] The stocks at the east end of the village date back to the 18th century and are now Grade II listed.