Grimethorpe was a small loose cluster of farmsteads until the 20th century when the opening of Grimethorpe Colliery lead to a sudden expansion in population. The surviving buildings from early Grimethorpe mostly date to the early 19th century although they have been substantially altered and added to by modern buildings. Most of these buildings are still parts of farms however. Grimethorpe probably originated as a Norse farmstead. There is no legibility of the medieval settlement. In the 16th century Brierley deer park was enlarged to cover much of the hamlet of Grimethorpe. The probably caused the settlement to shrink. (Harrison & Watson 2006 [accessed 19/11/07]).