In 1870-72 John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales described Winston as:A parish, with W. village and Newsham hamlet, in Teesdale district, Durham; on the river Tees, and on the Barnard-Castle and South Durham railway, 6 miles E of Barnard-Castle.

[5] Winston Bridge was opened in 1763 over the River Tees for the transport of coal via what is now the B6274 road from Staindrop, south to Richmond.

The hamlet of Winston Gate on the south side of the bridge was the location of the former barriers and toll booths.

For the purposes of Durham County Council elections, Winston is located in the Barnard Castle East ward.

The Anglican St. Andrew's Church, a grade I listed building, dates back to the 13th century, although it went under extensive restoration in 1848.

Winston once had a Church of England school that was built in 1851, however in 1961 it was closed, and the building was sold to Hammonds, a Darlington based brewery, it then became village's public house, now known as The Bridgewater Arms.