Newton Solney is a small village about three miles NE of Burton upon Trent and about ten miles SW of Derby, and it is situated on the confluence of the Rivers Dove and Trent. The church lies to the N of the village; the structure of coursed squared sandstone and ashlar consists of a chancel, an aisled nave, a S porch, a N vestry and a W tower. The church was restored by Frederick Josias Robinson between 1880 and 1882. Romanesque sculpture is found in the N wall of the tower, where two fragments are inserted, possibly from a more decorated doorway.

The Domesday Survey records that in 1066 'Newetun' valued £5 and was under the lordship of Earl Algar; in 1086 it was held by King William. At the end of the 11thc the manor passed to Norman de Solney, and the name of the village derives from him. The de Solney (or de Solennaia) family was in possession of the manor until the end of the 14thc, when it was acquired by the Ratcliff family.