Gibbs records the discovery of a scraper, flakes and artefacts from this location, which Young describes as occupying the edge of the limestone plateau overlooking the main river valley, the barrow on Hasting Hill, and the complex of ? Neolithic/Bronze Age ritual sites c. 1 mile to the south- east. The objects seem to have been in Sunderland Museum at one time since Miket notes specifically a flint scraper and three flakes ("now missing"), and gives an accession number, and Young quotes W. Dodds as saying that the material was of later prehistoric character, i.e. not Mesolithic.

Source 1 "records 'flakes and scrapers' from this location in a field to East-South-East of the Farm - a higher point of the ridge'. The ridge in question is the same as that occupied by the cairn at Warden Law. The area was field walked once by the writer. No further additions were made. None of this material can now be traced. No further information is available".(4) Source 2 notes that flints found at Haining as well as High Haining were in the Skipton Museum, but gives no grid refs for either. Haining: 20 unretouched blades and flakes, one microlith. High Haining: 21 unretouched blades and flakes. Source 3 gives the museum accession number for High Haining only.

"Part of a Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age stone axe found in 1962 by I. Dryden (farmer's son) during ploughing at Carr House Farm. Professor Dunham examined the axe and classified it as Pike of Stickle (Group VI) type, made of volcanic tuff".(2) Source 2 quotes a letter to Sunderland Museum as the original report of this discovery, and goes on to say that in 1977 the axe was in "Murton Modern School". Source 3 gives dimensions, 123 mm long, 82 mm wide, 32 mm thick, - were these in the letter or had he seen the axe? - and changes the name of the school to Easington Comprehensive. A different school or renamed?

Gibbs recorded flakes and a scraper or spearhead from north-west of the water tanks at Great Eppleton. Young, though extending the O.S. 4 figure grid reference to 6, points out that it is only approximate. He also reports that the objects cannot now be traced.

Surtees records "a remarkable tumulus, consisting entirely of field-stones gathered together", situated in a field "on the right-hand side of the road from Eppleton to Hetton and only one field from Houghton-Lane". In the top of the cairn was a small oblong hollow known as the Fairies Cradle. It is marked on O.S. 1st edition 1:2500 as "Fairies Cradle Maiden Hill (Tumulus)". Greenwell wrote "... a barrow was removed several years ago, when I believe some urns were met with; " and the VCH recorded the finding of "a vessel of pottery" when the mound was destroyed. Young lists it in his Group B, "Sites which upon destruction or complete excavation have proved to be barrows".

"In 1273 Sir Thomas de Herrington granted his manor of Houghall to the Church of St. Cuthbert; and in return for the donation, Richard Hoton, Prior of Durham, and his Convent, agreed, by their charter dated ...Feb. 1291, to institute two perpetual chantries in the Church of Durham...and to provide for ever two perpetual Chaplains to celebrate Mass; the one in the Chapel of Herverton, and the other in the Chapel of West Herrington...". In 1414, after a dispute, the Rector of Houghton agreed to provide a second chaplain in the parish to celebrate Mass 2 or 3 times a week in the said chapel of West Herrington. "The Chapel, of which no vestiges remain, probably did not survive the dissolution of the Chantries...". A church (with cemetery) was built at West Herrington in 1840. It was demoted to cemetery chapel in the late19th century and demolished in 1975. It is said it was built on site of chantry chapel but this has not been proved. Dated C13th.

The chaplain of St. Mary's chapel is listed as holding land in Burdon in Hatfield's Survey, c. 1380. This is the only reference yet found. Dated C14th.

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.