Elwick is the largest parish, by geographical size, in Tees Valley, though many people say we have more sheep than people! The A19, as it runs from the river Tyne 40 miles to the north, cuts straight through the parish as it heads to, and over, the river Tees, 10 miles to the south, dividing the eastern part in which sits the ancient village of Elwick, from the western where the growing conurbation of Wynyard sits to the south-west. Wynyard, once part of Elwick parish became a stand-alone parish council in May 2022. Directly to the south is the parish of Dalton Piercy, whilst a mere 4 miles to the east is Hartlepool town, itself bounded on its eastern edge by the North Sea. 

The parish is broadly agricultural, with dairy production the main industry – there are 4 working farms in the village itself with many more along the A19 and Coal Lane. This latter earned its name as once being the road by which coal came from the Durham coalfields to the port of Stockton, on the Tees, from where it was sent all around England to fuel the Industrial Revolution).