Gilling was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 under the name of Ghellinges.
Contrary to the now sleepy nature of the village, it was once a place of some importance in the Anglo-Saxon period of British history.
 In the 7th century it was a seat of the Deira in the southern region of the Anglian kingdom of Northumbria, and from the 9th century, the surrounding area known as Gillingshire was ruled by the Earls of Mercia, specifically Edwin, who was the last of the Earls to have a seat of power at Gilling before the Norman Conquest saw Edwin's lands given to William the Conqueror's kinsman, Alan Rufus.

St Agatha's Church in the village features a monument to Rear-Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock, who was born in the parish, at Hartforth.

In April 1976, nine-year-old Garry Fridd found a sword in the beck while playing close to the bridge in Gilling.
It turned out to be a double-edged, iron-bladed sword with a silver-decorated handle, dating from the 9th century.
It is regarded as being amongst the best Anglian weapons ever to be discovered in England.
The restored Gilling sword is  in the collection of the Yorkshire Museum in York.

The manor house Sedbury Hall is on the edge of the village.
Formerly associated with the Darcy, Aske, Conyers and Nevil families, it is now home to the Baker Baker family (formerly of Elemore Hall, Pittington, Co. Durham).
The present house was designed by John Carr, and its grounds were laid out in the 18th century by William Sawrey Gilpin.
Gilling was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 under the name of Ghellinges. Contrary to the now sleepy nature of the village, it was once a place of some importance in the Anglo-Saxon period of British history.  In the 7th century it was a seat of the Deira in the southern region of the Anglian kingdom of Northumbria, and from the 9th century, the surrounding area known as Gillingshire was ruled by the Earls of Mercia, specifically Edwin, who was the last of the Earls to have a seat of power at Gilling before the Norman Conquest saw Edwin's lands given to William the Conqueror's kinsman, Alan Rufus.
St Agatha's Church in the village features a monument to Rear-Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock, who was born in the parish, at Hartforth.
In April 1976, nine-year-old Garry Fridd found a sword in the beck while playing close to the bridge in Gilling. It turned out to be a double-edged, iron-bladed sword with a silver-decorated handle, dating from the 9th century. It is regarded as being amongst the best Anglian weapons ever to be discovered in England. The restored Gilling sword is  in the collection of the Yorkshire Museum in York.
The manor house Sedbury Hall is on the edge of the village. Formerly associated with the Darcy, Aske, Conyers and Nevil families, it is now home to the Baker Baker family (formerly of Elemore Hall, Pittington, Co. Durham). The present house was designed by John Carr, and its grounds were laid out in the 18th century by William Sawrey Gilpin.
Gilling West