Prior to the construction of the A264 dual carriageway, the area was simply known as Northlands, named after a farm located on Rapeland Hill.
[1] In the south of the hamlet, there exists a historical 17th century moated house, formerly occupied by Horsham member of parliament Robert Henry Hurst.
[2] In July 2015, a crop circle appeared in a field of young wheat adjacent to Upper Rapeland Wood, in the north of the hamlet.
This is reflected in the more forested north and central parts of the hamlet, where crops are grown and animal husbandry is practised.
The southern half of the hamlet is less forested with a lower elevation, making it more suitable for more contemporary commercial businesses.