SCOTLAND FARMIn 1086 BURTON OVERY was held by Hugh de Grentemesnil. After Hugh's death it seems to have come, like much else of his land, to Robert, Count of Meulan, for in 1124–9 it was being held by the count's son Robert, Earl of Leicester. Burton Overy remained in the hands of the earls of Leicester until after the death in 1204 of Earl Robert FitzParnell without male heirs when his lands were divided between his two sisters. Burton evidently fell to the share of the younger sister Margaret, wife of Saer de Quency, later Earl of Winchester, for her son Roger (d. 1264), 2nd Earl of Winchester, was in possession of it. That part of Robert FitzParnell's lands which fell to the earls of Winchester became known as the honor of Winchester, and of that honor Burton for the future formed part.
The south-eastern boundary, about three miles long, is formed by a small tributary of the Sence, and another small brook runs through the parish to join the River Sence at Great Glen and is seven miles south-east of Leicester.
The recorded population was 34 in 1086 and 72 in 1377. In 1563 32 households were returned for the village, and in 1670 62. Returns of the number of communicants give 217 in 1603 and 122 in 1676. In 1801 the population was 399. It rose to 484 in 1851 and fell to 292 in 1901; the sharpest decline occurred between 1881 and 1891 when the total fell from 424 to 348. The population in 1951 was 259.
The buildings are mostly of red brick but there are at least 8 houses which are wholly or in part timber-framed. In general these are rectangular three-bay buildings of post and truss construction without cross-wings, having steeply-pitched roofs which were originally thatched. None appears to date from before the 17th century. Scotland Farm is a two-bay house with a former stable at its west end and a later brick barn to the east. It retains its thatched roof but the wall timbers have been covered with brickwork. The main street of the village runs approximately north and south, ending to the north in a cul-de-sac at the group of buildings known as Scotland.
It is not until after the death of Earl Roger de Quency in 1264 and the division of his lands amongst his three daughters that more complete information about the under-tenants can be obtained. At the partition of Earl Roger's holdings, not completed until 1277, all three of his daughters obtained property in Burton Overy. Margaret, wife of William (de Ferrers), Earl of Derby, obtained 2˝ virgates held by Osbert de Bereford, and some more important property held by Robert de la Warde. Ellen la Zouche obtained 2 virgates in Burton Overy held by William de la Hay, and Elizabeth, wife of Alexander Comyn, Earl of Buchan, obtained lands in Burton held by Robert de Noveray. It is evident that by 1277 the Earl of Winchester's lands at Burton had been subinfeudated in a rather complicated fashion. From this point onwards the various holdings must be dealt with separately.