At the turn of the 20th century, Banthra Sikandarpur was described (as "Banthara-Sikandarpur") as a large double village on the road from Lucknow to Kanpur.^[3] There were then two separate sites, about a mile apart and on the east side of the road.^[3] The landowners were Chauhan Rajputs, who held the place in pattidari tenure.^[3] According to tradition, they had originally settled at Amausi during the reign of Humayun.^[3] At a later date, they went on to establish the nearby villages of Bani and Hamirpur, and they settled at Banthra at about the same time.^[3] Sikandarpur had originally been a hamlet of Hamirpur, and its name had been given by the Muslims of Bijnaur.^[3]

Banthra Sikandarpur was historically part of the pargana of Bijnaur.^[3] The 1901 census recorded it as having a population of 1,620 people, with a Muslim population of 162.^[3] At that time, Banthra had a police station, post office, and military encamping ground, while Sikandarpur to the south hosted a market twice a week, on Wednesdays and Sundays.^[3] Trade in cattle was the main commercial activity at Sikandarpur's markets.^[3] The village lands then covered an area of 1,825 acres, with 89 acres of orchards, mainly to the south of the village.^[3] Irrigation was mostly by tanks, although there was a shortage of water for irrigation at the time.^[3]