I expect someone to say that as Starforth is south of the River Tees it is in Yorkshire, not Durham, such are the vagaries of boundary changes (1971)!

The parish church, built 1863 by J. & W. Hay of Liverpool,replacing a medieval building.

The place-name 'Startforth' is first attested circa 1050, when it appears as Stretford. It is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Stradford. The name means 'street-ford', and refers to the paved ford by which the Roman road which passes through the village crosses the River Tees. The Roman road in question here linked the Roman forts of Bowes and Binchester. The paved ford is still visible in the bed of the river when the water is low.