The early documents do not distinguish clearly between the modern Burdon and Old Burdon, and the assumption below - that Burdon is the principal settlement - could be wrong. Earliest reference, to a single "Birden", is thought to be c. 930, when it was listed as one of the appendages of South Wearmouth in King Athelstan's gift to the see of Durham. Described with Ryhope in Boldon Buke. Temp. Hatfield's Survey there were at least 16 free and 8 bond tenants, a mill and apparently a chapel. Little Burdon (? Old) is mentioned separately, together with East and West Burdon. By C17 East Burdon Leaseholds consisted of 4 tenements and 2 1.5 tenements. In 1840 there were 12 farms in the whole township, some in the village. Comparison of maps of 1840 and 1860 suggests a central east-west row of buildings had been removed by the latter date; since then a farm on the east side of the village has gone, and the road from Tunstall has been realigned so as to enlarge the grounds of Burdon Hall. Whelan's directory of 1856 states that Burdon township is principally the property of John Gregson, former lord of the manor, and John Brough, The area of the township is 1109 acres. The population in 1801 was 69, in 1811 it was 107, in 1821 it was 149, in 1831 it was 162, in 1841 it was 114 and in 1851 it was 123. The township was formerly held by the Burdon family, but they never passed the rank of yeoman. The village of Burdon is situated on an eminence 4 miles south-west of Sunderland. The inhabitants of Burdon included Mrs Elizabeth Gregson at Burdon House, James Septimus Robinson, a solicitor, his wife (presumably) Dinah and son, Thomas Robinson, at Tunstall Lodge, Thomas Bolton, farmer at Thristley House, Edmund Dobson, farmer at Pacific Hall, and Richard Tweddell, farmer at Burn Hall. Dated C10th.

Middle Herrington is not explicitly mentioned until 138 x 1333 when it was coupled with East Herrington, both being the property of Roger de Eshe. Both were held from him by John Denum, Middle Herrington by dringage service. The latter does not seem to have become a separate township, and the two remain as part of the same estate, passing to the Lambton family in 1825. In 1855 the village had a vaguely 2-row, east-west, form with Fox Cover Lane running north in a dog leg from the north side. By then it probably consisted of two farms, one at each end of the north row, and - on the south side - Herrington Hall, ancillary buildings and park. The park survives, but the hall has gone and its site has been grassed over. A farm remains at the north-west end, but the remainder of the village is covered by modern houses. Whelan (1856) lists the township (of Middle and East Herrington) as having a population in 1801 of 123; in 1811, 161; in 1821, 133; in 1831, 229; in 1841, 231 and in 1851, 250 souls. The landowners in 1856 were the Earl of Durham, Richard L. Pemberton, Esq., Thomas Longstaff, Esq., John Leadbitter, Esq., and George Frederick Norton Esq. The Earl of Durham is lord of the manor. Dated C14th.

There were eventually three Herringtons, and until they came to be described separately it is impossible to be sure which is being referred to. Two Herringtons were mentioned temp. Bishop Flambard (late C11), and two parts of Herrington in Boldon Buke (a 1183 survey of land belonging to the Bishop of Durham, Hugh du Puiset) which owed works at Newbottle. Were these East and West? By C14 East and Middle Herringtons were separately mentioned. In the 19th century the property was acquired by the Lambton family. In the mid 19th century the village lay at the junction of Durham Road with Crow Lane (to west) and Silksworth Road (to east). In shape it was a two-row village, on either side of Silksworth Road (and included three farms), and with the west end largely closed by buildings on either side of Crow Lane. One or two stone buildings survive at the west end, and the basic street pattern - all else has been rebuilt. Whelan (1856) lists the township (of Middle and East Herrington) as having a population in 1801 of 123; in 1811, 161; in 1821, 133; in 1831, 229; in 1841, 231 and in 1851, 250 souls. The landowners in 1856 were the Earl of Durham, Richard L. Pemberton, Esq., Thomas Longstaff, Esq., John Leadbitter, Esq., and George Frederick Norton Esq. The Earl of Durham is lord of the manor. Dated C12th.

The earliest reference to Grindon seems to be 1323, when a messuage and 4 acres in the vill of Grendon formed part of a grant by Robert lord of Hylton to his clerk Robert de Chillingham. It is recorded as a "manor" in 1361 and 1450, on both occasions being the property of the Hilton family. They still held it in 1600, and it was probably not alienated until the mid C17. Surtees describes it as "a hamlet within the Constablery of Silksworth". Temp. Tithe Award it consisted of 2 farms, one in the occupation of John Leighton, 122 acres - 2 - 5, nos. 36, 38-54, (owner William Beckwith ?), and the other owned by Robert Ormston esq., also occupied by John Leighton, 146 acres-3-2, nos. 2- 19. The site is now covered by housing, and its precise position is not clear. Dated C14th.

The earliest reference to "Silcesworth" is thought to be in c. 930, when it was listed as one of the appendages of South Wearmouth in King Athelstan's gift to the see of Durham. It was in the possession of Bishop Flambard at the end of the C11, but in perhaps the C13 was given to the priory of Durham. Free tenants show in the records, but little other detail. It consists today of a north-south street bounded on the west by stone houses of the 19th century, some with large gardens. Tithe Award shows that one of these was a farm in 1840. In the mid 19th century there were 2 houses only on the east side, one being Silksworth Hall. This was rebuilt in the early C20, and is now empty. Do these rather grand houses reflect rather grander than usual tenants in the Middle Ages? Described as a hamlet by William Whellan in 1856. Dated C10th.

"A very worn sestertius of Antoninus Pius (138-161 A.D.) found by K. Shaw at 190 Tadcaster Road, Thorney Close, Sunderland". Dated C2.

In recording flints from High Elstob Farm, in the south-east field to the west of Tunstall Hope, mention was also made of two patches of stones on the east slope which suggested scattered burial cairns. Source 2 has found no trace of these, and puts them into his Group C, "...sites which have been recorded as barrows in the past, but about which it is best to reserve judgement,...".

"Yellow-stained flint artefacts found at High Elstob Farm, in the SE field to the W of Tunstall Hope". Now lost. Because these are recorded in an article about Neolithic man Source 2 describes them as "Poss. Ne. flints".

"A leaf-shaped arrowhead, flakes etc." were found near the surface of a field at North Hill, Middle Herrington. "The area is a small knoll on the East Durham Plateau, less than eight hundred yards west of the barrow on Hasting Hill and the grouping of Neolithic/Bronze Age 'ritual' sites there". The lithic material was not seen by Source 3; now lost?

"In the year 1805, an ancient Roman Celt was ploughed out of Tunstall Hills. It was about 5 inches long, and 2.5 broad at the edge". Garbutt then quotes from Whitaker thus, "The wedge-like form of these instruments is well known. In this particular nearly all of them agree. And they differ only in this, that some have no handle, and are therefore hollow in the blade, and others have a handle and no hollow". This seems to imply a bronze rather than a stone axe.