It is suggested that the name originates from "Bacca's Worth" meaning Bacca's homestead or hamlet. The earliest reference, with other villages, seems to be in a grant by Henry II (1154-89) to Tynemouth Priory, and in 1189 two "Backewrths" are mentioned. In 1292 Backworth was classed as possessing one of the priory's 10 manors, and yet - in 1296 - both Backworths were small, each having only 4 taxpayers. In 1377 there were 10 assorted tenants, sharing 5 cottages, 1 bondage holding and some land, and by 1539 the 10 were all copyhold tenants, with identical holdings. By 1650 the land to the north of the village had been divided up. the 19th century plans show an east-west 2-row village, with 2+ farms on the edge of the street, but a gap on the south side in front of the gardens of the 18th century Backworth Hall. Stone buildings still define the early village core, but beyond them mining has changed the village's surroundings. Low earthworks representing medieval ridge and furrow were recorded by Alan Williams to the north of Middle Farm. The earthworks were approximately 5-6m wide. These earthworks were removed as part of a development but further earthworks remain to the north and west of the farm. Dated C12th.

Aerial photos show cropmarks in the field south-east of Holywell Grange Farm, north-east of the onetime East Holywell pit. G. Jobey, whose note of 15/2/66 survives on photo NZ/3173/E (Source 1), dismissed them thus: "The site is almost certainly a 2nd World War gun-post". Source 5, having seen (4), takes a different view: "...a rectilinear, single- ditched enclosure, measuring c. 81 x 71 m....There appears to be an entrance in the centre of the southern side...two dark sub-circular marks may mark... sunken yards. These could flank a central causeway...". He supports its identification as an Iron Age / RB rectilinear farmstead by the existence, at the farm, of several millinng-stones of the appropriate period.
Alison Deegan: Complex cropmarks of possible Iron Age and/or Roman date are visible on air photos taken on two different dates. The identified features include a large curvilinear enclosure, a rectilinear enclosure, hut circles, internal enclosures and divisions and large hollows. These features are located to the south-west of Holywell Grange Farm.
On photos taken in 1992 the large curvilinear appears to comprise of a slightly elevated area flanked by lower ground to the north and west but by a broad ditch to the south and east. The eastern side has an entrance near the middle. It is near tear-shaped in plan and measures approximately 140x100m. However the northern and western sides are far less well-defined on the photos taken in 1994.
The 1994 offers more detail on the features that lie within the curvilinear enclosure. A near-square enclosure sits neatly within the large enclosure. It measures approximately 52x51m and has an east facing entrance that aligns with the one in the outer enclosure. A short ditch across this entrance suggests a gate slot or similar.
This rectilinear enclosure has a ring ditch near its centre (17m diameter), and two small ring ditches, one to the immediate north-east and the other just outside the entrance. There corner enclosure in the north-east and south-west corner of the enclosure and a hollow or wear depression in the south-west corner.

A hoard of gold and silver objects was found in 1812, supposedly near Backworth and, according to Haverfield, was sold to a Newcastle silversmith. He resold "all, or nearly all" to Mr. J. Brumell, a Newcastle collector, from whom most of the objects passed in 1850 to the British Museum. The hoard consisted of: a silver skillet in which were a pair of silver-gilt trumpet brooches, one silver and five gold rings, one gold bracelet, two gold chains with wheel- shaped pendant, and a crescent attached, three silver spoons, another silver skillet, 280+ Roman denarii, and two first brass coins of Antoninus Pius. A white bronze mirror had served as a cover. Date of deposition is thought likely to be A.D. 140. The larger skillet and one of the gold rings each have an inscription, a dedication to the mother- goddesses. This list does not wholly accord with Haverfield's: in particular he suggests that an oval silver dish 18 ins long and 2 pieces of a silver bridle bit never reached the B.M. The hoard could have been associated with a temple to the Mother Goddesses (Matres) or it could have been buried in a secluded spot for safe keeping. The British Museum acquired what was left of the hoard in 1850 after all but one of the coins had been dispersed. Other objects could also have been sold. The surviving coin is a denarius of Antoninus Pius issued in AD 139. The jewellery is comparable with the rings and necklaces in the Snettisham hoard from Norfolk. The hoard is on display in room 49 of the British Museum. The Backworth Hoard was on loan to Segedunum Roman Fort from 24 May to 15 Sptember 2013. Dated C2.

A Roman terracotta lamp (broken) found in Monkseaton was donated to the Museum of Antiquities via the National Museum, Edinburgh.

In an assessment-roll of 1292 Monkseaton is included as one of the ten manors belonging to Tynemouth Priory. "Though Preston, Monkseaton, Backworth and Flatworth do not appear in the record of 1264, corroborative evidence of their manorial character is found in their possessing halls, while Flatworth, Backworth and Monkseaton had separate demesnes...". This amount of information does not enable one either to locate the manor, or to describe it - did it have a separate set of farm buildings for instance ? Further work on the Alnwick MSS might help. Dated C13th.

The earliest reference seems to be between 1106 and 1116, the date of Henry I's grant to Tynemouth Priory of Graffard's lordship, which included Seton, later to be renamed Monkseaton. It was a substantial village, the late C13 custumal listing 15 bondsmen, 10 cotmen and 3 freeholds, and though it suffered severely at the time of the Black Death it recovered. There were 10 tenants in husbandry in 1539. The common fields were not enclosed until the third quarter of the C17. According to Tomlinson there were a number of fine dwellings in the village in C17. Still a very compact settlement on 1st ed. OS, with several of the farms (5+) in the village. There was an industrial area called The Fold on the north side of Front Street, described by Tomlinson, which included several small-scale industries such as a saw pit, skinnery, tinworkers, cooper, umbrella repairer and smithy. Original shape uncertain - 2 row + N extension, or 2 row with triangular green later colonized. Back lanes still clear at that time. Today the street plan largely survives - Front St, Back Lane, Relton Ter, Coronation Cres, Bygate Rd, Chapel Lane, Pykerley Rd, Percy Ter, - but most buildings were replaced this century. Remnants of stone walls, however, and a farm in the centre of the south side. Dated C12th.

The earliest reference to the mill is a grant by Henry Faukes to Tynemouth Priory in 1320 when it was called Billing's Mill. With the other possessions of the priory it was leased after the suppression to Sir Thomas Hilton when it appeared as "Belle Mylne", in the tenure of John Salter and Alexander Dyxon". It was rebuilt in 1597-99 with timber from up the Tyne and mill- stones from Barnard Castle. Later in the C17 it was conveyed to the earl of Northumberland. In spite of quarrying close by in 1658 the mill survived to be rebuilt in stone in 1760 though it was once again in ruins by the early C20. Dated C13th.

"Though the water-mill of Marden is not mentioned by name before the suppression of the monastery, it was probably one of the six mills belonging to Tynemouth in 1292, and may be identified with the water-mill existing in 1483, when Richard III gave $100 to Prior Boston as provision for its maintenance. In 1538 Marden mill was in the occupation of Robert Dove and John Dove, and formed part of the prior's demesne". It was rebuilt in 1598- 99, and was let, in 1610, to 2 Londoners to hold of the Crown. Topographical descriptions suggest that its site was at the mouth of the burn (unnamed on 1st ed. OS 6"), east of Marden Farm and now under Cullercoats. Dated C15th.

A survey of Tynemouth in 1292 records 6 mills, but does not distinguish them. Tynemouth windmill is specifically mentioned in 1293, and is included in the property of the one-time priory leased to Sir Thomas Hilton after the Dissolution when it was in the tenure of John and Robert Dove. It was let in 1610 to 2 Londoners, to held of the Crown. According to NCH, the mill was situated on the east bank of the Spital dene, and survived until it was burnt down in 1805. A mariners' asylum was erected on its site in 1837, i.e. it was roughly at the first grid ref above. Note, however, that the 1st ed. OS 6" shows "Tynemouth Windmill Ruin" at the second grid ref. Dated C13th.

A private burying ground was provided for the Society of Friends in Cullercoats in 1662(2)/1661(1) by John Dove of Whitley. "He enclosed a piece of ground at the north end of John Street (formerly called Back Lane)...and interments took place here until 1818"(2), or - except for one odd burial, until 1739(1). This plot is marked on the 1st ed. OS 6", on the east side of the lane, and "was situated at the north-west corner of the field called Arnold's close, near to the Marden burn". Phillips records seeing many headstones, and lists the burials on pp. 289-90. The enclosure became overgrown, and in 1872 Tynemouth Corporation removed the headstones and human remains to Preston cemetery so that John Street could be extended to join Whitley Road (Lane). Phillips' plan shows the site to be under John Street, "a little to the north of the Primitive Methodist Chapel". The headstones, some C17, and a plaque recording their removal, are set at the east end of the south wall of Preston Cemetery.