[1] The name Romanby suggests that the village dates from Roman times, but derives from the Viking name Hromund.

[3] Romanby chapel, which dated from the 13th century, was demolished in 1523 on the orders of the Bishop of Durham, Thomas Wolsey.

It was designed by the York architect Walter Brierley for North Riding County Council.

The main building constructed in 1904–14 is of two storeys of ashlar and red brick on a square courtyard plan, it has a 15-bay frontage and 23-bay returns.

[14] The village has several shops, a post office, a dentist, a hairdressers and a public house, the Golden Lion.