There's enough evidence supplied by Robert Surtees, a noted Durham historian of the time, to show that the names Budlesdon, Butlesdon, Butleston, Butliston, Bittiston, Botilstone and Buston are all synonymous. Possibly the name means one from the' ton' meaning town in a ' bus' being a wood and early residents were named by their location so the name is one of location. Its then safe I think to record that people such as Richard de Botilstone, Hugh and Gregory de Bittliston and William de Butlesdon who lived in the 12th century were my ancestors First mention of the place and family is in the Pipe Rolls of 1166 of a Lambert of Buttesdune ( another to add to the list). who is fined or owed a 'mark' for groundless appeal in a suit before the kings justices who were Godfrey and Richard de Lucy. He paid his fine into the Treasury and received his discharge.
It's therefore possible that even then the two families of Lambert and Buston were more than just acquaintances.
Around the same time the ville of Buston was spilt in two, probably the origin of High and Low Buston.The High Buston half would be larger because that's where the settlement or village originally started.
By 1310 Botilsdon was held by William and Richard de Botilsdon .who where both Free Tenants, which meant they did not labour for the landlord baron. Richard died in 1362 but his family held their share until 1498 when William's descendant, another William, took over three fifths of the share and a William Watton two fifths.. By 1369 the Percy's of Alnwick were receiving rent from High Buston, being the lords of the Barony of Walkworth.
In 1567 William Beadnell and Thomas Buston held Over Buston ( High Buston ) under the Walkworth Barony and paid it 5s 5p and 7s 8p a year respectively.
A survey of that year showed Thomas owning two husbandlands or messuages as were three other freehold tenants. Unfortunately this was not to the surveyors liking as it meant that Thomas had the authority over two tenants and it was exceeding his rights and upsetting the economy of the village. The surveyor said in judgement and sure I would give order that the said Thomas Bustone sholde have no more pasture of other extinte or fewell seeing he ys in all respects equall witth everyone of the said tenants for him and his tenant bothe, than one of the said tenants have. .
In 1621 the Earl of Northumberland allowed High Buston to be enclosed, that is to be divided into self contained farms without common use of certain areas and that's how it remained until sold. The small estate together with the adjoining farm at Wooden owned by Roger Buston was first sold to Sir William Armstrong in 1882 and then on to the Duke of Northumberland.