The Denton name derives from the Old English 'dene+tun', meaning "village in a valley," but in Domesday it is written as "Dentune".

By 1918 the Great Northern branch had been extended to a point near Socketwell Plantation to serve quarries at Harston.

The first quarries were worked by hand with the aid of explosives, From 1918 steam diggers began to be introduced and from 1938 diesel and electric machines.

In 1984 Denton held its first street market, proceeds from which were equally divided between the Church, the School and the Village Hall.

The 2013 event was the 27th, (the 2001 and 2012 markets being cancelled because of foot and mouth and bad weather respectively) with over 150 stalls, food outlets, children's entertainment, and traditional village sports.

[8] The village public house, the Welby Arms, is an early 19th-century building constructed of coursed ironstone rubble, with the side walls of red brick, and although a number of alterations were made in the 20th century, it has been Grade II listed since 1979.

[12][13] Denton Grade I listed Anglican parish church is dedicated to St Andrew.

[20] At one time it was owned by Sir William Welby-Gregory, 4th Baronet, MP for Grantham and South Lincolnshire and his well-known wife Victoria, Lady Welby, the philosopher of language, musician and water-colour artist.

She was followed in 1887 by their son Sir Charles Welby, 5th Baronet, MP for Newark and Under-Secretary of State for War.

[21] The park also houses a series of large ponds and a freshwater spring, St. Christopher's Well, which is hidden in a grotto built from fossils and shells in 1823.

Both were on the Belvoir Estate, and the job of building them, along with the cutting, was the responsibility of William King, the agent for the Duke of Rutland.