Bakersfield, Nottingham facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bakersfield
Bakersfield
OS grid reference	SK5964240696
District	City of Nottingham
Shire county	Nottinghamshire
Region	East Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	NOTTINGHAM
Postcode district	NG2, NG3
Dialling code	0115
Police	Nottinghamshire
Fire	Nottinghamshire
Ambulance	East Midlands
EU Parliament	East Midlands
UK Parliament	Nottingham East
List of places UK England Nottinghamshire 52°57′36″N 1°06′43″W / 52.960°N 1.112°W / 52.960; -1.112

Bakersfield is a small residential area, also known as a suburb, located in Nottingham, England. It lies just east of the city centre. It's a place where many people live and commute to work or school in Nottingham.

History of Bakersfield

Bakersfield was built mostly in the 1930s. It has a mix of houses built by private companies and by the local council. A special thing about the council houses, designed by T. Cecil Howitt, is how much space they have for gardens and other open areas. Over time, more useful places were added. These included a supermarket, smaller shops, and a post office. Like many areas in Nottingham back then, houses were built first. Other services and shops came later.

Exploring Bakersfield's Geography

Bakersfield is found at the eastern end of the Dales area. It is mainly around Oakdale Road. It sits between other suburbs. To the west is Sneinton, to the northeast is Carlton. To the southeast is Colwick.

South of Bakersfield is Colwick Woods. This is a large, old forest and green space. It leads down to the Nottingham Racecourse. From the top of Colwick Woods, you can see amazing views. You can see the Trent Valley all the way to Belvoir Castle. You can also see across the city to places like Wollaton and Clifton. A fun fact about the area is that many road names end in 'dale'. Examples include Parkdale, Middledale, and Langdale. This can sometimes be a bit confusing for new visitors.

Who Lives in Bakersfield?

Bakersfield has always been a place for different people. After World War II, many people from Poland and Italy moved here. Some of the Italian people had been living in a camp nearby. Today, people from Poland and Italy still live here. The area also has a growing number of people from South Asia. This makes Bakersfield a diverse and interesting community.

How Bakersfield Works: The Economy

Bakersfield was not a big industrial area in the 1800s. Instead, it was created as a "dormitory" area. This means it was built for people who live there but travel to work. Most residents commute into Nottingham city centre for their jobs.

Community Life and Fun in Bakersfield

Bakersfield has a lively community. The Rio cinema on Oakdale Road opened in 1939. It closed in 1959 because television became very popular. After that, it became a nightclub. Later, it was changed into a shop called 'Supasave'. Today, the ground floor is a shop called "Nisa Local." The old balcony area used to be a snooker club. It has since been a restaurant, which is now closed.

The area also has a few public houses (pubs). There is a medical centre for health needs. A community centre provides a place for local events and groups.

Famous Places in Bakersfield

One important landmark was a pub called The Oakdale. It was built where a large farm barn used to be. For many years, it was a central part of the community. During the Second World War, it even served as a bomb shelter. The pub is now closed. A Tesco Express store is in its place. Both Oakdale Road and the pub got their name from a large oak tree. This tree stood there until bad weather damaged it, and it had to be cut down.

Getting Around Bakersfield: Transport

A railway line runs along the southern edge of Bakersfield. This line goes to Netherfield and Grantham. However, Bakersfield has not had its own train station since 1959. That's when the Racecourse station closed.

Buses in Bakersfield

Buses are a main way to travel in Bakersfield.

• Nottingham City Transport
  • 43: This bus goes from Nottingham to Sneinton Dale and then to Bakersfield.
• Nottingham Minibus
  • 773: This bus connects Netherfield, Carlton, and Bakersfield.

Learning in Bakersfield: Education

Younger students in primary school often went to Jesse Boot Primary School or Parkdale Primary School. For older students, comprehensive schools in the area included Greenwood Dale and Manvers Pierrepont. These schools were on Carlton Road and Sneinton Road. For further education after high school, students first went to Forest Fields College. Later, they could attend the Manvers Pierrepont Comprehensive, which is now closed.

Places of Worship in Bakersfield

Bakersfield has several churches for different faiths.

• The parish church of St John the Baptist in Carlton serves the area. It opened in 1957.
• St Stephen's on Sneinton Dale also covers the area for the Church of England.
• The Church of St Cyprian on Marston Road was built in 1913.
• Dales United Reformed Church was built in 1930.

Sports and Recreation in Bakersfield

On the southern edge of Bakersfield, you'll find the Nottingham Racecourse. There is also the Nottingham Greyhound Stadium. These places offer exciting events for sports fans.

Famous People from Bakersfield

One well-known person from Bakersfield is Jack Burkitt. He was a famous football player. Jack was the captain of Nottingham Forest when they won the 1959 FA Cup final against Luton Town in 1959. After his playing career, he managed Notts County in 1966. He then worked for Brian Clough at Derby for a few years. Later, Jack left football to take over the Oakdale Road post office in Bakersfield.