People have provided a snapshot of life in a 'calm' city suburb, home to independent businesses and an award-winning chippy. Located near Sherwood, and north of the Forest Recreation Ground, Carrington has a pharmacy, barber shop, Lidl supermarket, primary school and an array of independent shops.
The shops are a huge convenience for residents, so says 44-year-old bank worker Michael Grey, who has lived in the area for 15 years. “Nothing much happens here, all the shops are handy. I use the Lidl a lot rather than the Co-op and I go into Spuds ‘n’ Stuff for lunch sometimes, they’re nice there with good food too.
“Pancho's chippy has been in the area for years and so has (micropub) Doctor's Orders, there’s just not a lot to say about Carrington it’s hardly ever in the news - which is a good thing and, if you don’t drive, there’s always a bus to get on.”
Does more need to be done to cut down on dog fouling in Nottinghamshire? Have your say in our pol
Michael added: “I think that one of the busiest times around here is when Goose Fair is on and you can see people walking to and from the fair.”
Doctor's Orders in Mansfield Road is dog friendly - and there's also the award-winning chippy, the Cod’s Scallops.
Full-time mum Tabitha Owens, 31, who lives in nearby Sherwood, said: “I take my kids to the Pirate Play Park around here and, as a treat, we might go into the Cake Solution.
“We walk a lot so, from Sherwood shops, we might walk through Carrington and then walk up Hucknall Road to get back home. A lot of people drive through Carrington everyday but it’s one of those places that can easily be overlooked unless you live nearby.”
The origins of the suburb go back to the Enclosure Act of 1792, which released some of the land to be sold for building new homes. About six acres of land on the junction of Mansfield Road and Hucknall Road were allotted to Robert Smith, a direct descendant of Thomas Smith, who started the first country bank in Nottingham in the late 17th century.
He sold his holding to Ichabod Wright, who had also acquired extensive lands under the Enclosure Act. He laid out the land for a new settlement he named in honour of Lord Carrington of Carrington, a former Nottingham MP and related to the Smith banking family.
As he drew up his plans, Wright decided that his new village needed to be self-sufficient, to avoid travelling across what was then known as Nottingham Lings, a wild, open space of overgrown ground criss-crossed by rough roads
Crossing it was a dangerous business as all sorts of robbers and cut-throats lurked in the undergrowth.
Wright made a market place the centre of his plan, with shops and homes around it. If traders were prepared to come into the market place and set up their stalls, his residents would have no need to make the perilous journey across what is now The Forest and into Nottingham for their goods and chattels.
The new suburb followed the pattern set by New Basford, taking on the appearance of an industrial village, made up of well-built back-to-back houses for workers and handsome villas to be occupied by merchants and lace manufacturers who had their warehouses in Nottingham.
Carrington Market Place was established and thrived for many years until it closed in 1930, much to the annoyance of local residents. The area subsequently developed into what it is today.
Back to the present day and Sherwood resident Tyler Michaels, 24, spoke of some of the eateries he enjoys. The mentor said: “I’ve gone to a few of the shops before a takeaway. I’ve been to Spuds ‘N’ Stuff, their prices are decent, I’ve been to the Caribbean takeaway and to the Cod's Scallops. I always say I’ll sit down for a coffee in Naughty But Nice but I haven’t yet. Carrington's nice, a lot of people are always passing through.”
At Studs ‘N’ Stuff in Mansfield Road you can get a range of fillings in your jacket, potato, salads and more. Marianne Pearson, who works at a shop, said: “We do sandwiches, breakfast, meat is Halal only and, obviously, jacket potatoes. We’re available on UberEats and Deliveroo too.
“At the end of the day, we give away what’s left to the homeless but the area, it’s not that busy. We get a lunch rush, the shops next door come in but usually it’s pretty nice and calm.”
READ MORE:
I visited restaurant where staff shouted and swore - but the food was superb
We tried cafe bringing Hong Kong to Nottingham and every table was filled
Inspirational Nottingham graduate goes from growing up in care to the red carpet
'A dream' as 3 new businesses open in old Ritz Bingo Hall in Ilkeston
Shoppers love 'perfect' £39 Marks and Spencer spring dress after seeing it on Holly Willoughby
