A settlement is known at South Charlton from the late 13th century, when it was a member of the barony of Alnwick. A series of medieval and post-medieval documents give some idea of how big the village was. For example, in 1296 there were 14 taxpayers and in a survey of 1569 there were 16 tenants. The village had two rows of houses facing each other across a village green, but was replanned in the mid-19th century; the south row was removed and the north row was moved forward. Only a few earthworks survive and may show the line of the original south row of houses.