It originally was named Little Lumley, being only a short journey from Great Lumley and consisted of 5 streets of houses, Finchale Terrace, High Row, Middle Row, Lower Row and Woodstone Terrace, which were built as housing for the now disused '6 pit' mine, in the area.
Recently the addition of a large estate built by a housing company on the site of the former brick works has expanded the village.
The only amenities in the village are the Athena beauty salon, and the Fencehouses community centre which contains a gym as well as childcare and nursery facilities. The village also includes an industrial estate from which several companies such as Par petroleum, County coaches and Leisure caravans operate out of.
