 The course of Rudgate, a Roman road, passes the village.The lands of the parish used to be held by the Hamerton family of Hellifield Peel Castle, part of their estate stretching from Slaidburn to York.The family name died with Sir Stephen Hamerton when he was hanged for treason at Tyburn in 1536 for participating in the Pilgrimage of Grace and his family died soon after.