Carlton, meaning “town of the churls” (common agricultural people), is a small and undeveloped village just on Rothwell’s doorstep. The “churls” may have moved on but agriculture still plays a central role in village life and Oldroyds Farm, which has been established in the village since 1933, has placed Carlton slap bang in the middle of West Yorkshire’s infamous “rhubarb triangle”.
Sport has also played an important part in the history of Carlton and its inhabitants. The rural sports fields, set in between acres of picturesque farmland, have been at the heart of the village for more than 150 years.
The earliest known reference to sport in the village goes back to 1867 when a cricket team from Carlton made only 33 runs against a team from nearby Lofthouse. Back in those days cricket was played on Dick Marshall’s field in the far side of Pitfield Road, now Ashton Crescent. He also gave the team a lift to away matches by horse-drawn wagonette for a shilling a head!