Duston is now a suburb of Northampton with a rich history. Duston was once a separate and distinct settlement separated from Northampton.

Archaeological findings suggest that Duston has been a settlement since at least Roman times, with roots possibly extending back further.

Duston was recorded as a farming community in the Domesday Book. In 1068 a manor at Duston was established under the authority of William Peveril.

The 12th-century St Luke's Church is a significant historical feature of the village, with many medieval elements.

Duston remained a largely agricultural area until the 19th century. With the Industrial Revolution iron ore quarrying became a major activity in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

A school opened on Main Road in 1856 and the building saw many extensions over the decades to accommodate the needs of a growing population. The building is now the modern day St Lukes Centre.

Following the World Wars a program of council house building was carried out north of Duston old village.

First was the Kerrfield estate, named after the Kerr family who were the last family to occupy the Duston estate in its entirety before they sold off the estate lands in July 1919.

Eastfield Road was built following the Second World War in the late 1940s.

British Timken was significant employer and contributor to village life from 1942 – 2002.

Duston War Memorial was unveiled on 6th February 1921 with names of the fallen in World War One. Additional names were added following World War Two. Duston Village Hall opened in 1923. Robert Errington donated part of his land to the local community in 1939 which is now known as Errington Park. St Francis Church opened in 1968. Duston Community Centre opened in 1974. Duston Library opened in 1984.

Since the 1950s Duston has been engulfed by the expansion of Northampton. Most of the development has been residential, but the original village still retains many old buildings which is now a planning conservation area.

The development of St Giles Park and Alsace Park took place in the 1980s into the 1990s.

Duston Parish Council came into existence on 1st April 1991 by Statutory Instrument Northampton (Parishes) Order 1991. The implementation of the order and setting up of Duston Parish Council was overseen by the then Northampton Borough Council.

From April 1991 to March 2021 Duston was served by three tiers of Local Government - Duston Parish Council, Northampton Borough Council & Northamptonshire County Council. Since April 2021 Duston has been served the Parish Council & West Northamptonshire Council.

From 1965 to 2021 the Mayor of Northampton & it's civic coat of arms covered Duston. However, this all now exclusively belongs to our neighbour, Northampton Town Council. Bants Lane and Harlestone Road is the boundary line between Northampton Town and Duston Civil Parish.

When the Parish Council was created in 1991 it started with no assets and a small amount of funds. But since then it has been steadily increasing its responsibilities and role within the local community. For example,

In the early 2010s Duston Parish Council took ownership of Duston Sports Centre and Duston Community Centre.

2012 took on a 99 year lease of St Luke's Centre and St Luke's Field.

2015 created the Duston Neighbourhood Plan.

2021 obtained ownership of Errington, Melbourne, Mendip and Grafton Way Parks from Northampton Borough Council.

2024 obtained ownership of Telstar Way, Duston Wildes Park, Newton Road Open Space, Cheddar Close Open Space, Brockwood Close Open Space, Cheddar Close Open Space, Westbury Close Open Space.

Local Government Act 1888 – established Northamptonshire County Council

Local Government Act 1894 – established Northampton Rural District Council and Duston Parish Council. The Act created civil parishes in rural areas which took on the secular functions of the local Vestry Committee.

Northampton Order 1965 (SI 1965, No 250) – moved Duston from Northampton Rural District Council and Northamptonshire County Council and into the County Borough of Northampton. Abolished the then Duston Parish Council which had existed since January 1895.

Local Government Act 1972 – abolished the County Borough of Northampton. Established a new Northampton Borough Council. Northamptonshire County Council coved Duston again and the whole of Northampton.

Statutory Instrument Northampton (Parishes) Order 1991 – created a new and the present day Duston Parish Council. Came into force 1^st April 1991.

Northamptonshire (Structural Changes) Order 2020 – abolished both Northampton Borough Council and Northamptonshire County Council. Created a single tier unitary West Northamptonshire Council. Duston Parish Council stays the same.