It has a farming community and is set against a beautiful scenic background; sometimes it has been called Little Switzerland.

On 1 April 1955 the parish was abolished to form "Plenmeller with Whitfield".

The Manor of Whitfield was granted, in the 12th century, by William the Lion, King of Scotland, to the Whitfield family, who retained it until 1750 when it was sold to William Ord of Fenham.

When a later William Ord died in 1855, the estate fell to his son's widow and then to her heir, her niece, who married Rev John Blackett, a son of Christopher Blackett of Wylam.

The registers start in 1612 and the list of Rectors in 1180 with Robert de Quitfield, which confirms the existence of a church at that time.