Template:Wp-Lenton, Nottingham-History

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The name Lenton derives from the River Leen, which runs nearby.

Lenton and its mills on the Leen get a mention in the Domesday Book in the late 11th century: "In Lentune 4 sochmen and 4 bordars have two ploughs and a mill."

Lenton Priory

Lenton Priory was founded in the village by William Peverel at the beginning of the 12th century. A Cluniac monastery, the priory was home to mostly French monks until the late 14th-century when it was freed from the control of its French mother-house, Cluny Abbey. From the 13th-century, the priory struggled financially and was noted for "its poverty and indebtedness". The priory was dissolved in 1538, as part of King Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries.

Following dissolution, the priory was demolished and its lands passed through private hands. The Priory Church of St. Anthony, Lenton is thought to incorporate elements of the chapel of the priory's hospital.

In 2005, Lenton celebrated the nine-hundredth anniversary of the foundation of Lenton Priory. The centrepiece of the celebrations was a special festival held in the grounds of Priory Church of St. Anthony, Lenton on 21 May 2005.

Lenton Fair

King Henry II granted permission for the priory to hold an annual fair on The Feast of Saint Martin: 11 November. Lenton Fair originally ran for 8 days before being extended to 12 days. The fair caused numerous disputes with the mayor and burgesses of the town of Nottingham as no markets could be held within Nottingham during the period in the Lenton fair. In return, the people of Nottingham were given special rates to hire booths at the fair.^[1] The Fair continued after the demise of the Priory, though its length was gradually reduced. Its emphasis slowly changed and, in 1584, it was described as a horse-fair when servants of Mary, Queen of Scots attended. By the 17th century, the Fair had acquired a reputation as a great fair for all sorts of horses. In the 19th century, it was largely frequented by farmers and horse dealers. The Fair finally ceased operating at the beginning of the 20th century.

16th-20th centuries

From the closure of the priory in 1538 until the late 18th century, Lenton was primarily a rural agricultural village.^[2]

In the 1790s, the Nottingham Canal was constructed, passing through the village. This led to industrialisation and population growth, with a number of factories built and the population increasing from 893 to 3077 between 1801 and 1831. The area known as New Lenton was developed on agricultural land separate from the village, to accommodate the expanding residential and industrial needs both from the village and the neighbouring town Nottingham. As with many other villages surrounding Nottingham, many of the residents were involved in the manufacture and trade of lace.^[2]

Originally a separate village, Lenton became part of the town of Nottingham in 1877, when the town's boundaries were enlarged.^[2] Nottingham became a city as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Queen Victoria in 1897.

Both the University of Nottingham and Queen's Medical Centre are within Lenton. This has increased the amount of student accommodation available, hence making the location heavily populated with students.