In the Domesday Book of 1086, Carlton is referred to as Carentune. Like other parts of Nottingham, Carlton grew up with the textile industry in the 19th century. It is now mostly residential. Until 1950, Carlton was part of the Rushcliffe parliamentary constituency. It had its own eponymous constituency from 1950 until 1983, since when it has been in the Gedling constituency. In 1974, Carlton Urban District became part of the newly formed Borough of Gedling.
The main shopping street is Carlton Hill, which has several shopping chains and smaller shops such as newsagents, chemists, and grocers. Carlton Square, the traditional centre of Carlton is today a shopping centre. There are numerous areas of grass for children to play on, as the roads tend to be quite busy. The King George V Recreation Ground is host a large playing field, a skatepark, a zip-line, and a children's playground. Carlton has two leisure centres: Richard Herrod Centre on Foxhill Road and Carlton Forum on Coningswath Road, off Cavendish Road. Carlton Laundry on Primrose Road is a Grade II listed building by Watson Fothergill. It was built in 1899 as a laundry and dye works.
N73: Mapperley, Westdale Lane, Carlton Valley, Netherfield, Victoria Retail Park.
Nottingham Community Transport
L73: Victoria Retail Park, Netherfield, Carlton Square, Carlton Tesco, Bakersfield
L74: Victoria Retail Park, Netherfield, Cavendish Road, Gedling, Carlton Square, Netherfield, Victoria Retail Park
Education
Local schools are Parkdale School, Carlton le Willows Academy, Sherwood Academy and The Carlton Academy. Carlton Central Primary School was founded in the late 19th century but after a piece of masonry fell one night from the roof into the school assembly area in the 1960s, the school was demolished and the council house and the current Carlton Square were built in its place. A new school had been built on Foxhill Road/Carlton Hill and Carlton Central Primary School was relocated there. The new school had originally been intended to replace the deteriorating St. Paul's School on Carlton Hill. St Paul’s was closed in 1983 after many years and attempts to find a new site and financing for a new building were unsuccessful. Carlton Central Primary School is not the only primary school in Carlton. Amongst others, Porchester Junior School is situated at the top of Standhill Road. Carlton has a number of pre schools & nurseries including Foxy Creeks Pre School and Good Foundations Day nursery on Station Road. Carlton is home to the Midlands Academy of Dance and Drama. It is one of the UK’s top musical theatre colleges.
