Carlton, ENG - Postcode - CB8 0SW

Description of Carlton, England

Village and civil parish of Carlton, in the borough of Stockton-on-Tees, ceremonial county of County Durham, England. In the most recent census, conducted in 2011, the civil parish was home to 726 people.  It's not far from the small town of Redmarshall, which is located to the north-west of Stockton-on-Tees.

History of Carlton

The village's medieval pattern of buildings facing each other across the main street and with strips of land in front and rear has been preserved despite extensive new construction in the previous decade. This design is considered to be of Norman origin, and it is thought that it dates back to when the settlement was rebuilt after William's raids through the north. 

Until border re-organization in 1974, it was a part of the County of Durham. It is located north of the River Tees, about 5 miles west of Stockton-on-Tees, and is part of the ecclesiastical parish of Redmarshall, which came under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Durham. It stands 160 feet above sea level and was mostly an agricultural community, with a slow-moving creek running down the south of the settlement. The community's main street was likely an old drovers' road.

There were 23 farmers and a miller in Carlton when Bishop Pudsey of Durham ordered a survey of his lands in 1200 AD; also, William, son of Orm of Carlton, was obligated to attend the great chase of the Lord Bishop with one greyhound at any time the Bishop requested it. It is estimated that there were 124 people living in the area at the end of the 14th century, and that the rent for a shared bakehouse was two shillings per year, paid to the Bishop.

Before the turn of the century, people in Carlton had a considerably more difficult time of it than they have now. Until about 1895, residents of the hamlet relied on the community pump in the middle of town for their water needs. Even after the installation of piped water, the village pump remained in widespread use for decades.

Before a railway station (formerly Carlton Station) was built to the east of the settlement in approximately 1850, people had to walk or use horses to get about. Upon opening, Carlton Station quickly became the regional hub for commerce, serving as a hub for freight trains, chemical plants, a coal depot, and commuter trains. The construction of homes and cottages for the employees, many of whom settled in the hamlet, contributed significantly to the area's rapid population growth at the time. Farmers routinely used the railroad to transport milk to the city's dairies, which required the milking of cows, the cooling and measuring of the milk into churns, and the transportation of the churns using horsepower, all before 7:00 a.m. to ensure that the milk would arrive at its destination fresh in time for breakfast.

In the 1920s, a bus service started operating; at first, it only ran on market day and Saturday. Service currently occurs hourly during the week.

There were several natural landmarks that no longer exist because of the war. Around the village, you'd find well-trodden paths, about five duck ponds, as well as orchards, trees, and hedgerows. Roads had to be enlarged and old buildings eliminated in the name of progress, but the village greens remain very pleasant and have been improved by recent bulb plantings by locals and regular maintenance by the Stockton Borough Council.

Built in 1900 (perhaps by Irish laborers who were staying in the area) to replace an older inn, "The Smiths Arms" is a prominent landmark in the heart of the hamlet. The South Durham Hunt used to hold two annual meetings at this venue, back when they competed for the "Stirrup Cup." Next to the bar in the former Blacksmith's Shop—now the restaurant—villagers would gather to catch up on the latest rumors and get their horses shoed.

Five traditional farms were in operation in the town "before the war," but today there is only one. The village has since shifted its economy away from agriculture and toward other small industries.

There was a conference of women in 1928 to establish a Women's Institute, and the stationmaster's wife was the leader. The hall, which was finished in 1936, was a huge financial and logistical boon to the Women's Institute and the surrounding community thanks to a number of fund-raising events. Over the years, the hall has been in high demand by the cricket club (now defunct), youth groups, etc., and it was used to house soldiers during the war to host Red Cross lectures for volunteer first aid workers.

There was a lot of support for the local Home Guard, Special Constables, Fire Brigade, and Red Cross during the war because of the strong sense of community that developed.

Carlton Village Stores and "The Smiths," a family-run tavern and restaurant, can be found inside the community (previously the Smiths Arms). The Smiths, which is featured in the 2006 Good Beer Guide, offers Deuchars IPA and a guest beer (often from a major brewer) that rotates every few weeks. The only pub in the surrounding villages to feature a separate public bar (with wide-screen TV playing music channels when sports aren't on) and well regarded restaurant, it is unique in this regard.