Long Benton (Magna Benton) was a member of the barony of Merlay or Morpeth. The barony dates from the beginning of the C12, though whether Benton is explicitly named before the C13 is not clear. When the barony was divided after 1266 so was Benton, one half ending up with the Brandlings of Gosforth, the other with the Stotes of Jesmond. Though there were few freeholders in the Middle Ages, it was a large village, there being 14 taxpayers in 1296, 18 in 1312. It was an exceptionally long, 2-row, settlement, stretching from Four Lane Ends (W) to the modern Tynedale Terrace (E), and at the time of the 1st ed. OS it included several farms. Though a number of 18th century and19th century stone houses survive the N row has been broken by large pubs and carparks, and the village as a whole is enmeshed in modern housing estates. Dated C13th.

The parish of Long Benton stretched from the Tyne (S) to Sandy's Letch (N). The church was originally isolated, standing between the two principal villages of the parish, Long Benton and Killingworth, in a square churchyard. It was perhaps built by one of the Merlays, barons of Morpeth, Roger de Merlay being the owner of the advowson in 1251. Though the church was described as ruinous in 1663, the medieval nave was not demolished and rebuilt until 1790-91 (see HER 7272). Dated C13th.

Ridge and furrow survives as earthworks in pasture in several fields east and north of Earsdon, viz. 1) 3195 7212, 2) 3184 7220, 3) 3188 7250, 4) 3219 7268. APs show it has also existed, not so long ago, in fields now arable, - 5) 3209 7288, 6)3237 7294, and also 7) 3242 7258, only recently ploughed. The AP apparently shows other features here, what? The ridge and furrow in fields 2-4 is quite large, and in nos. 2 and 4 curved. No. 4 is in the Conservation Area. The town fields of Earsdon were enclosed in 1649.

Extensive ridge and furrow is visible as earthworks and cropmarks in the fields to the north and west of Earsdon. Most of these plough ridges are broad and are likely to be of medieval origin, but some of the narrower ridge may be of post medieval origin. Most but not all of these remains have now been levelled.

The earliest reference to Earsdon seems to be in the early C12 when it was listed among the possessions of Tynemouth priory. In 1292, except for 2 freeholds, the whole township was in 17 bondage holdings, 14 owners of which were listed in the 1296 lay subsidy roll. The number of holdings decreased in the later Middle Ages, and in 1538 there were only 8 farms. In 1649 the common fields were enclosed. Earsdon was basically a 2-row village, probably with green, with a strong rectangular outline until the 19th century and 20th century accretions along its southern edge destroyed this. A subsidiary row lies north of and parallel to Front Street. The village is still largely of stone, with 2 farms at the west end, and some rather grand houses (Bleakhope House, The Garth and Manor House), plus some uninspiring modern infilling on both sides. Seven test pits were dug in 2011-12 as part of a community archaeology project. Three in the grounds of Eccles Hall, three in Woodlands Terrace and one at West View. Finds were early modern - a barrel ring, household waste, pottery, glass, a silver sixpence, a large amount of metalwork, potentially a dump of blacksmithing waste, clay pipe. Natural bedrock was recorded at various depths around 0.70m. Dated C12th.

Though St. Alban's chapel at Earsdon is not in the list of 1176, it had been founded before 1250 when the vicar of the mother church at Tynemouth was required to provide a chaplain etc. for the chapel. Until 1846 the chapelry consisted of the townships of Earsdon, Backworth, Burradon, Seghill, Holywell, Hartley, Seaton Delaval and Newsham. "The old chapel was a plain structure without aisles, transepts, or tower. A porch at the west end of the nave, on the south side, and a door into the chancel, were of Transitional or Early English character. There were stone seats inside the porch, and a sun-dial over the outer doorway. At a later date the pitched roof was lowered, a belfry was added at the west end, the chancel door was blocked up, and rectangular windows were substituted for the original lights". The chapel was demolished in 1837, and replaced with the present, larger, church. Dated C13th.

"Opposite St. Mary's Island traces (of chipped flints) were noticed". This was in contrast to the sparse distribution between the Tyne and Whitley Bay.

The tip of a socketed spearhead was found in Wideopen before 1960, and presented to the Society of Antiquaries by Mr. P. Nicholson. Its surviving length is 127 mm, max. width 46 mm.

A gold earring was found in Dinnington in 1861, "and given to the British Museum by J. Pierrepoint Morgan as part of the Greenwell Collection". Miket describes it thus: "Max. diam. 25 mm, weight 236 gr. Crescentic earring, circular in section, spirally twisted with tapered terminals".

Part of a Roman quern, or millstone, was donated to the Society of Antiquaries by Mr. Russell of Willington in 1842.

A flat bronze axe is reported to have been found in Wallsend, but there is no information about the date of discovery or findspot. It was formerly in the Greenwell Collection, and is now in the British Museum. It is described as 135 mm long, thin-butted, and with a cutting edge 80 mm wide. The butt is damaged, the edges battered and surface pitted.