Stainton is a village standing to the north-east of Barnard Castle. It was first recorded in 1150 as 'Staynton'. In Old English this means,'Farmstead by a paved road'. The paved road would appear to be the Roman road from Bowes to Binchester which Stainton lies next to.

In the medieval period Stainton had a church, St Peter and St Paul. In the 15th century it had a tower built. However, much of the church was replaced in the 19th century. This was not the only religious site in the village. At least two chapels were recorded here in the medieval period, one as early as 1210.

In the 18th century a map of the area shows a bail hill on a hill to the north of the village. However, no evidence for it survives, and the area may have been destroyed by modern quarrying.