The village of Saunderton is near to Princes Risborough, though also occupies an area a few miles away where Saunderton railway station is located. The village was listed in the Domesday Book as Santesdune which may mean the name is derived from the Old English for Saint's Hill. The oldest settlements in the area date from the Iron Age such as on Lodge Hill. Traces of a Roman villa have also been discovered near to the parish church.
The oldest building in the village is the parish church which dates from 1227. The church was dedicated to St Mary with a second parish church dedicated to St Nicholas. The other church fell into decay and was demolished in 1452, St Mary's was rededicated to St Mary and St Nicholas.
A workhouse was established in Saunderton in the 18th century, this became the main workhouse for the Union of High Wycombe in Victorian times.
Saunderton railway station was opened in 1901. It was opened over two miles away from the centre of the village, housing has now been built around the station. The station's main building was burned down by the Suffragettes in 1913.
