A settlement is recorded at Cornhill from the 13th century, when it was part of the Bishop of Durham's estate of Norhamshire. The population seems to have grown from that time and had a thriving economy in the 19th century. Today, no remains of the medieval settlement have been noted, but if the village remains on its original site deposits could survive beneath the present buildings. The remains of medieval buildings were found in excavations at Cornhill in 2004 and 2006 (see HER 15328).