Two possible Roman crossings of the Wear have been suggested, one at Ford, the other at Hylton. The first was an inference by Longstaffe, supported later by a Roman milestone supposed to have been found at Ford. Since this was in fact the Ford near Lanchester this notion can be discounted. There are two separate accounts of a mass of laid stone across the Wear at Hylton, with an oak framework, decorated stones, a lead inscription, a voussoir and evidence for the use of cramps. There has in the past been disagreement as to whether this structure (much of which was removed in 1865) was a causeway or the remains of a bridge. More recently Dymond has come down in favour of a bridge, perhaps with a causeway as well, and puts it in his Class C, ("Sites where remains exist or have existed, and there is reasonable certainty that they are Roman"). Selkirk prefers a Roman dam, while Bidwell and Holbrook doubt if the structure was Roman. No claim has been made in recent times for the existence of a Roman road in this area.

In existence early in 1644; date of construction 1643 as part of Mayor Sir John Marley's attempts to refortify the town. Lithgow's contemporary description: "Upon the Townes Northeast side, and a little without, there was a fortress erected, called Sheiffield Fort, standing on a moderate height…; It standeth squarely quadrangled, with a foure cornered Bastion at every angle, and all of them thus quadrat, they are composed of earth and watles; having the North-east side of one bulwarke pallosaded, the rest not, save along the top of the worke about, they had laid Masts of Ships to beat down the assailants with their tumbling force. At the entrie whereof there is a wooden drawbridge, and within it two Courts du guard, the graffe without is dry and of small importance…". In Feb 1644 fell to the Scots, and in the autumn of that year was slighted by the defenders. Apparently repaired in 1648. Built on high ground within cannon range of the walled town. McKenzie refers to visible remains of the "great fort" in 1827. Still visible in late19th century between Christ Church Shieldfield and Ridley Villas - Oliver's map of 1830 shows what appears to be the north-east bastion of the fort. Lithgow's description suggests that the fort was a roughly square earthwork with projecting bastions at each corner, surrounded by a ditch, known as a sconce or star-fort. It is possible however that this feature was of a more irregular shape. Said by Warburton to measure 67 yards x 67 yards, bastion 20 yards each way. No trace of the fort was found during an archaeological evaluation by The Archaeological Practice Ltd. In 2010 nor during an evaluation in the same year by NPA Ltd.

Certainly of Norman origin, the evidence being the S door of the nave ("with hoodmould decorated by that Durham favourite, the nutmeg motif..."), and in the N wall of the chancel a window, with widely splayed jambs and internal roll moulding. The date is disputed: (7) gives various dates for the different bits, 1080+, mid C12, end of C12, and (17) just c. 1200. Ryder states that the church was already a sizeable cruciform church by the later 12th century and that there was a smaller church on the site by 1080. The aisled nave of 5 bays dates from C14, its octagonal piers lacking capitals like Newcastle St. Nicholas. The nave roof is a C15 replacement, and the transepts C15 additions or replacements. In 1340 a licence was granted for the erection of an anchorage which was sited on the N side of the chancel, and rebuilt in 18th century or 19th century for use as school and vestry. There have been several major buildings/restorations: tower and W end of nave in 1740, upper parts of tower altered c. 1773, 1838-9, much of the chancel and the windows of nave and aisles by Dobson after damage in the fire of 1854, 1874-5. The tower was rebuilt by George Cansfield in classical style 1739-40. Restoration in 1874 by Austin, Johnson and Hicks. A fire in 1979 within the church destroyed much of the Victorian stained glass and furniture and signalled the end of the buildings as a working church. Another fire in 1983 destroyed the roof and the vestry. In 1988 prior to the restoration and conversion of the church, evaluation trenches were excavated below the church floor. The foundations of the C12 walls were seen to lie only 30cm below ground surface. An undisturbed burial was found at a depth of 80cm. In 1990 the building became an auction house before being converted into a visitor centre in 2003. In 2009 it became a heritage centre. Dated C12th.

In the north-west angle formed by Easedale Gardens and the Pelaw Main wagonway, on Ravensworth Golf Course, there is a raised platform "with a typically rounded Roman corner. The top of the platform has medieval rig and furrows and one side has been landscaped away. The prominent corner is full of stone". There appears to be a bank round the top of the two visible sides. The site is close to the junction of two Roman roads, Chester-le-Street to the Tyne, and the Wrekendyke.

"A 4th century Roman coin (Emperor's name not given) found in the garden of 77 Lynthorpe by G. Jackson in 1963". Dated C4.

With 16 farmers holding 25 oxgangs (each of 12 acres) this was a substantial village in the late C12. By c. 1380 5 bond tenants held a total of 14 messuages and 22 bovates (each of 12 acres). Does this suggest shrinkage even then, and amalgamation of holdings? In the early C15 the manor of Morton was held by the Lumleys; in the late C15 the bishop leased the manor or vill of Morton to Richard Errington; in 1525 Wolsey leased the manor and grange to Richard Belasyse, and Sir Richard Belasis held the "Manor Farme or Towne of Morton" in 1647 when it was described as already enclosed. In the late C17/early 18th century the estate was sold to John Lambton. Today it is a single farm, with a large stone farmhouse and some unimpressive farm buildings. Whelan (1856) lists the township as having a population in 1801 of 188; in 1811, 251; in 1821, 308; in 1831, 295; in 1841, 185 and in 1851, 185 souls. The lord of the manor and principal landowner is Earl of Durham. Dated C12th.

The earliest documentary reference is 1112. At the time of Boldon Buke (a 1183 survey of land belonging to the Bishop of Durham, Hugh du Puiset) Houghton (Ottona) was clearly an important centre of the Bishop's estate, - 13 cotmen, 3 half cotmen, bailiff, smith, carpenter, pounder, with work services owed from other vills. Temp. Hatfield's Survey 4 free tenants, 23 tenants of demesne lands, extensive bond lands and exchequer lands, watermill, brewhouse, oven, onetime forge. Described by Surtees as one of the great copyhold manors of the see of Durham, as well as the centre of an extensive parish. Originally a substantial village, still showing its C17 and 18th century prosperity, on an E-W axis. At the W end is the rectory, separated from the church by the main road from Durham, then the church on the N side of Church Street, in the centre Quality Hill (now Nesham Place) with Houghton Hall on its SW corner, and at the E end, awkwardly attached, Market Place. In 1483 Bishop Dudley granted leave to the rector “to enclose and fortify and embattle a tower” (removed in the late 18th century). In 1574 the Kepier Grammar School was founded and built, and in 1668 the Davenport and Lilburne almshouses were constructed. By 1794 Houghton-le-Spring township has a population of 996 persons in 225 families. Further expansion led to the establishment of a weekly market by 1825; around the same time there were 21 inns and public houses, 2 beer shops and a large brewery on the Durham road. In 1829 Houghton Colliery opened employing over one thousand people. Whelan (1856) lists the township as having a population in 1801 of 996; in 1811, 1356; in 1821, 2905; in 1831, 3917; in 1841, 3433 and in 1851, 4075 souls. By 1891 the population had risen to 37, 921 on account of the collieries and quarries in the area. The landowners in 1856 were the Earl of Durham, Marchioness of Londonderry, the Hon. And Rev. John Grey, Thomas Robinson, M.D.C. Moneypenny and Mr Back. Terraced housing was built on the north side of the town. Large handsome houses were built on Nesham Place. Houghton Feast is an annual festival which has been enjoyed every October for 800 years. Bernard Gilpin introduced the roasting of an ox to the festival in the 16th century. Today Newbottle Street is the main street. Originally called Newbottle Lane, the shops were all on the east side. The properties on the west side were not added until 1907. Newbottle Street became prominent after Sunderland Street was demolished in the 1960s to build the A690. Dated C12th.

In origin Rainton manor was part of the ancient estate of St. Cuthbert. The property of the prior and convent of Durham, it was usually called Rainton manor. It was, however, specifically described as the manor of "Estrainton", let for 5 pounds p.a., in the bursar's account of 1365-6. A cursory examination of the bursar's accounts for 1345-81 suggests that this manor was usually let, but at the time of the Black Death it was in hand and run by a sergeant (1349- 52), and in 1350-1 there is record of the building of a new grange there.

"Moreslawe", which Greenwell believed originally to have been the moor of Rainton, was first mentioned in the C12 when there was one grant (perhaps 2) of land there to the prior and convent of Durham. In 1345/6 there were 10 tenants holding between them 12 tofts with acreages ranging from 4-32, but by 1539 there were just 3 tenants, and again in 1580, all paying the same rent. A plan and terrier of 1805 suggest there may have been little change, other than perhaps enclosure, in the intervening period. A wide green or street had one farm on N, 2 farms and 3 smallholdings on S, a lane coming in from W, and road out to Hetton on E. The farms were all of c. 140 acres. There had been expansion by the mid C19, 2 terraces typical of mining settlements being built in the SE quarter, but today this has been landscaped away, and all that survives is the SW farm, a small terrace on the N side, and ?onetime pub on the S. The north row had largely vanished by 1805. Described by Ian Nairn in 1964 as 'not much now, and steadily getting less as the farms shrink and the old mining rows are pulled down. Yet a fine site, a green on a ridge-top with a view out over the whole of northern Durham'. Dated C12th.

It is generally agreed that this Roman road connected the fort at South Shields (E) with the Roman road from Chester-le-Street to the Tyne (W). Versions of the name are recorded from the C13. A considerable stretch of the road is still in use, from Jarrow Slake to Wrekenton at NZ 2812 5926. W of there it is now largely built over. Wright obtained a section at NZ 310614, where it was 16 ft wide, and another on the E side of Long Bank, Wrekenton, where it was 19 ft across. At High Eighton, NZ 2724 5860, however, he found nothing, and he argues that earlier antiquaries have not proved its line to the west either. Note that Selkirk has recently published an air photo which he believes may show the road running on. At its east end its route from Jarrow Slake to the fort is also unknown. Until comparatively recently long stretches of the Wrekendyke formed parish boundaries. A watching brief in 2005 during water mains renewal on Newcastle Road (A194) at Primrose Bridge, South Shields did not record any archaeological remains, however ground levels have been raised here for the creation of the modern road. Paul Bidwell argues for a pre-Hadrianic date for the Wrekendyke. Research by David Armstrong contained within the HER as additional information.