The Centre was established in 1992, with a Development trust set up in the memory of the 10th Duke of Northumberland, to specialize in research into the rural economy. Specifically this concerns the investigation of the social and environmental basis of economic activity in rural areas.
Research is conducted in a British and European context.
Current research concerns rural microbusinesses in the north of England, the redevelopment of redundant naval facilities and the dialects of the north of England.