South Hylton

Archaeological excavations around North Hylton and South Hylton indicate the area has been occupied since at least the Mesolithic era. The remains of either a Bronze Age or Iron Age log boat and bronze swords were recovered from the nearby River Wear in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Masonry from a possible Roman bridge or dam across the Wear have been found, the local historian Robert Surtees recorded the discovery in the Wear of a Roman milestone, and Roman coins were found in the village in 1962 and 1994. An Anglo-Saxon brooch has also been discovered near Wood House Farm in North Hylton.

One of the four public houses (including a working men's club) in the area is The Golden Lion, situated near the river bank. The pub has existed since at least the mid-19th century, but the current building dates to around 1910. One of its main external features is the front door stone surround commemorating the marriage of John Hylton and his wife, Dorothy Musgrave, which was recovered from the north wing of Hylton Castle. The Golden Lion was extensively damaged in a blaze in 2019.