The original Sandon was a Saxon settlement, near the church, which moved down onto the main road in the 17th and 18th centuries as the then lords of the manor, the Erdswickes wanted the area for a deer park. This explains the scattered nature of the current village. The Harrowby family arrived in the 18th century and built the hall. Defined by the Trent on the west side, Sandon has twice been split length wise by the canal and the railway, with the A51 reaching through it today, once bordered with horse drawn coaches running from London to Chester, hence its once having five pubs and three blacksmiths. Today it plods quietly on with an active church, Women’s Institute and cricket team, the year’s highlight being the summer fete.
Burston – Bura’s farm – is possibly older with Roman-period coins being recently found. It is even quieter than Sandon, despite the A51, the bulk of the village being separated from the main road by the railway and now served by a pair of swans and up to forty mallards on its old millpond. Several of its inhabitants are retired but service on the Parochial Church Council or Sandon and Burston Parish Council. Like Sandon, it has its renowned Summer Tea Party and a monthly church service which also includes a packed Carol Service at Christmas.
Employment within the parishes is confined to working on the Sandon Estate or at the two pubs or commuting to local towns.