The vill of Brunton, a member of the barony of Bolam, was first mentioned in 1234, East Brunton in 1296 when there were 6 taxpayers here. In 1356 it was sold to Wm Heselrig, lord of Fawdon, and it remained in that family until the sale of 1768. Wrathmell quotes a document of 1666 (? Hearth Tax) recording 12 houses here, but suggests some depopulation before 1730, at which time only one farm survived. Cropmarks of the DMV appear on an aerial photograph taken on 7 July 1977 (NMR MAZ/77024 frame 049). There appears to be a diffuse trackway leading from the core of the DMV towards the north west. Fieldwalking here in 2000 recovered considerable quantities of 12th century - 14th century pottery, including imported ceramics from Spain and Utrecht, and post-medieval pottery up to 17th century in date. Geophysical survey over a small part of the DMV was followed, again in 2000, by trial trenching, which recorded linear features. A post medieval iron knife with inscribed bone handle was found. When the A1 was constructed through the middle of the DMV, the remaining cropmarks were covered by spoil 1 metres - 6 metres deep. Dated C13th.

This site was proposed for the Newcastle local list in 2023. The local list description reads:
'This was one of three closely spaced enclosures, the other two have now been built over (Headland  Archaeology 2019). It is located close to housing and has potential as a conduit for community engagement with the prehistoric background of this area.'
There is evidence for a site in the field north-east of Morley Hill farm. The APs suggest cropmarks of ditches, perhaps two running parallel, and a corner or corners, but a note written after a site visit records "the remains of two earthworks... Parts of 2 sides of one (site) and of 3 sides of second, showing as slight ditches only. Top half of a bun-shaped quern is lying about". The APs, and sketch of earthworks do not agree. Probable traces of bell-pits also {1-3}.
Evaluation in 2015 identified two enclosed settlements with a possible third to the east. A double enclosed settlement was identified in several trenches - the outer enclosure ditch with an entranceway to the settlement. An Iron Age sherd of pottery was recovered and a radiocarbon date of 47BC-120AD was produced from charcoal within the ditch. The second settlement, 120m east of the first, was rectilinear in shape. Internal features included multi-phase drainage likely to be the principal roundhouse of the enclosure. A radiocarbon date of 374BC-181BC was produced. A third, less defined, enclosure was also identified.
There was archaeological excavation of two of the prehistoric enclosures in 2017. Enclosure 1, which survives as a low earthwork was not at threat from development and so was left in-situ.
Enclosure 2 was trapezium-shaped and enclosed four roundhouses . The entrance was on the southern side. The enclosure ditch measured between 3.5m and 5.5m wide and was between 1.43m and 2.13m deep. Two ditches extended from the north-west and north-east corners of the main enclosure ditch. These ditches were narrower (2.3m) and shallower (0.96m) than the main enclosure ditch.
Three irregular post holes may represent a wattle fence. A 6m long curvilinear gully up to 0.4m wide and 0.26m deep produced a small Bronze Age barbed and tanged arrowhead from its fill. It has yet to be established if the arrowhead is residual or not. A small Neolithic axehead was recovered from the fill of an irregular pit 0.9m x 0.64m and 0.17m deep. Three pits were found outside the enclosure.
Two parallel ditches were recorded north-west of the enclosure. They possibly lay either side of a trackway and are probably medieval or post medieval in date.
Enclosure 3 (which extended beyond the development site) enclosed eight roundhouses. The entrance was in the south-east. The enclosure ditch was up to 5m wide and 1.55m deep. A layer of scattered stone at the entrance may represent a metalled surface. As well as roundhouses, the enclosure also contained pits and gullies. A large shallow pit 6.58m x 2.52m and 0.1m deep had Iron Age pottery and bone in its fill. Two narrow (0.33m) and shallow (0.27m) gullies may represent a horn-like wall/fence in front of the entrance to structure 18 which had a ring-gully enclosing a 10m diameter space.
Structure 18 was truncated by two curvilinear ditches which contained sheep or goat bone and fired clay material from a hearth in their fills. The ditches probably conveyed water into the main enclosure ditch. More animal bone was recovered from the fill of the ring-gully of structure 21.
Structure 23 had no gap for an entrance and was smaller than the other roundhouses. It might have had a non-domestic function.
A large but shallow ditch 3.3m wide and 0.33m deep ran NW-SE across the site, meeting the south-east corner of enclosure 3. It probably functioned as an overflow for the main enclosure ditch, directing excess water downslope away from the settlement. The area between this ditch and an L-shaped ditch to the east enclosed another twelve ring-gullies, pits and post holes.
Palaeoenvironmental assessment of a small selection of samples has yielded cereal grain (barley, spelt wheat and bread/club wheat), charred weed seeds, a fragment of hazel nutshell, an indeterminate tuber, wood charcoal. The small assemblage of animal bone comprised cattle and sheep or goat and a horse tooth. A small assemblage of burnt bone was also recovered. Finds include 69 sherds of prehistoric pottery, 59 sherds of Roman pottery (probably from one cooking pot and possibly of Flavian date 69-96 AD), 7 flint lithics including one core, debitage and retouched tools including two Mesolithic microliths and 1 flake of cannel coal or shale. The Early Bronze Age arrowhead is of Green Low type. The Neolithic axehead is of unusual stone type, soft and pale grey. It is 78mm long. 134 fragments of fired clay (fragments of possible hearth supports, pit linings or fired wattle and daub structures) were recovered. 36g of vitrified fragments and <0.5g of magnetic residues were recovered and are characteristic of fuel ash slag from hearths, ovens or industrial activity.
The presence of Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age artefacts indicate that the site was occupied sporadically prior to the construction of the enclosed settlements.
The site was clearly occupied around the 1st century AD and the lack of later Roman wares might mean that it did not continue in use much past this date. Radiocarbon dating will provide a better idea of the date range of the occupation.

The earliest reference to Brenkley is 1242, when it was listed as a member of the barony of Mitford. In the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1296, 1312 and 1336 there were 6 - 7 taxpayers. By the time of the 1661-5 Hearth Tax returns there were 2 householders who owed the tax, 4 who did not. The 3 farms on the 1st ed. OS map exist today, at least as buildings. It appears to have been a very small 2-row village, with ? green. Some earth- works exist between the buildings on the south side, and there is ridge and furrow behind the north row. Dated C13th.

Perhaps part of the Merlay/Morpeth barony, being given by Walter de Merlay in the C12 to St Albans (Tynemouth Priory), among whose possessions it was confirmed by Richard I in 1189. In 1343 there was reference to 7 messuages in Woolsington, and in 1360 to 8 tofts. The NCH then says "After this the priory seems to have held the township in demesne until the suppression in 1538", while Wrathmell specifically suggests that Woolsington was a monastic grange. The minister's accounts of 1539 record the rent of 3 copyholders. It is certain that there was a capital messuage or hall here from at least the C17 onwards, but there is no clue as to when or why the village disappeared (though Wrathmell suggests emparking), or indeed where it was situated. Dated C12th.

The top stone of a bun-shaped quern was ploughed up in the field immediately to the west of South Brenkley Farm, (Source 1 quoting the Newcastle Evening Chronicle of 6 May, 1963). In 1968 the OS reported it was in the County Offices, Ponteland.

In 1907 an object of chert was found on Braid Hill, near High Callerton. It was recovered from a heap of stones "which had lately been taken off from a field close by". Its dimensions were recorded as 5" long x 3.5" wide x 1.5" thick, and the material identified as freshwater chert, perhaps of the Lower Purbeck, in the south of England. There are two problems. First, what is it? The finder published it as probably a spearhead; Miket called it a flake; Allason-Jones sticks to axe. Secondly, its date. Allason-Jones believes it is palaeolith, and if so the only one yet found in this area. She suggests it was brought in in the course of some agricultural activity, and is therefore out of context.

In origin a basin mire, in historic times an intermittent lake which was common to the seven surrounding townships of Ponteland, Berwick Hill, Horton Grange, Brenkley, Mason, Dinnington and Prestwick. Drainage was first mentioned, and small-scale works were carried out, in the 18th century. It is probable that enclosure was discussed in 1807 - there were drainage proposals in 1809 and 1835 - but nothing happened until 1855-57, when the Carr was finally drained and enclosed, the Award being dated 25 March 1860.

In 1890 13 bronze vessels and a ?handle were ploughed up on Prestwick Carr 350 yards north of Prestwick Whins Farm. This camp kitchen set contained a cauldron, 4 bowls, one basin and 7 saucepans. Though battered and patched, the names of two makers and three owners survived on 4 of the vessels. Of the 13, 7 were donated to the Society of Antiquaries by the landowner, Charles Loraine Bell of Woolsington. The cauldron disappeared before the publication of the group in NCH XIII in 1926 and, though it had been the intention of Mrs Bell to lend the remaining five to the Society, they vanished before reaching the Black Gate. Dated C2.

This site was proposed for the Newcastle local list in 2023. The local list description reads:
'Earthworks of a multi-ditched enclosure with medieval or post medieval ploughing within and around the enclosure. These earthworks are adjacent to the Listed Building GINGANG ON WEST SIDE OF FARMBUILDINGS AT SEVEN MILE FARM (NHLE 1237367).'
The site was first reported by Tim Gates 20 January 1983, and later in more detail on 26 October 1984: "In a pasture field south-west of the farm buildings, and adjacent to them, is an enclosure defined by a trapezoidal ditch - certainly the remains of a settlement of R/B type. The surrounding area is covered by broad rig and the interior has similarly been ploughed. The ditch is quite pronounced nevertheless being up to a metre deep at the rear of the enclosure (that is the west side), but shallower on the east side where the entrance ought to have been". Steve Speak (Tyne and Wear Museums) suggests that it could be a moated manor house. Alan Biggins (Timescape) suggests medieval fishponds. Alison Deegan (Air Photo and LiDAR interpreter) also suggests a possible moat surrounded by ditches and a possible outer enclosure. AP interpretation suggests that small areas of R&F have been levelled by development at Seven Mill House. The 'moat' measures c.46m x 46m internally. The 'moat' ditch is flanked by an outer bank along its western and northern edges. The ditch is linked to a series of other ditches round the east and south sides.

Rectilinear ditched enclosure. MPP classification: Enclosure / Rectilinear / Symmetric / Not elongated / Corners curved / Straight sides 2 / Convex sides 2 / Ditches 1 / Length c. 70 m / Breadth c. 70 m / Complete / Entrances 1 (aspect E)³ Speak notes some disturbance in the NW corner of this enclosure, and a smaller enclosure to the immediate north.