Aerial photographs show cropmarks on the ground north of Main Street in Etal, where part of the former village may have been. Old documents refer to Old Etal in 1242, 1296, 1341, 1354, 1377, 1438, 1541, and 1580. Additional references refer to Old and New Etal in 1604, 1613, 1665 and 1769. The present day model village of Etal was laid out in the later 18th century. The site of the former 16th century hamlet of New Etal presumably lay at near the modern farm hamlet. New Etal was established on the opposite bank of the river Till from Old Etal. See also New Etal.