Ilkeston

Ilkeston
Ilkeston Market Place (August 2003)
Ilkeston Location withinDerbyshire
Population	40,953 (2021)
Demonym	Ilkestonian
OS grid reference	SK 46399 41774
District	Erewash
Shire county	Derbyshire
Region	East Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Areas of the town	List Cotmanhay Town Centre Kirk Hallam Larklands Hallam Fields Shipley View
Post town	ILKESTON
Postcode district	DE7
Dialling code	0115
Police	Derbyshire
Fire	Derbyshire
Ambulance	East Midlands
UK Parliament	Erewash

Ilkeston(/ˈɪlkəstən/ILL-kis-tun) is a town located in theBorough of ErewashinDerbyshire,England, with a population of 40,953 at the 2021census.Its major industries,coal mining,iron workingandlace making/textiles,have now all but disappeared. Part of theNottingham Urban Area,the town is located between the citiesDerbyandNottingham,near theM1 motorway,and on theRiver Erewash.Its eastern boundary bordersNottinghamshireto the east and is only two miles from Nottingham's western edge.

History and culture

Ilkeston was likely founded during the 6th century, and gets its name from its supposed founder Elch or Elcha, who was anAnglianchieftain. The town appears as Tilchestune in theDomesday Bookof 1086, when it was owned principally by Gilbert de Ghent. Gilbert also controlled nearbyShipley,West HallamandStanton by Dale.Ilkeston was created a borough by Queen Victoria in 1887.

Ilkeston is one of several places where the distinctive dialect ofEast Midlands Englishis extensively spoken. Ilkeston is referred to as 'Ilson' in this dialect.Generally the name is pronounced with three syllables,Ilkisstun,notIlk's tun.

The American Adventure,a large theme park which closed in 2007, was located on the outskirts of Ilkeston on the former Woodside Colliery adjoiningShipley Country Park.

NatWest's Ilkeston branch gained much media interest when a hole in a neighbouring wall received an influx of reviews onTripadvisor,causing them to suspend reviews in February 2020.

Stanton Ironworks

One of the biggest and most important local employers was the Stanton Ironworks, later known asStanton and Staveley– the continuation of a long-standing tradition of iron working in this area. There has been evidence of iron working and quarrying in the area sinceRomantimes, and the industry began blossoming into a huge industrial concern in the 1780s. By the mid-19th century there were several blast furnaces and the production rose from around 500 tons of pig iron per month to 7,000 at the end of the century. The Stanton Ironworks acquired a number of smaller ironstone quarrying and ironworks companies. These included theWellingborough Iron Companyin 1932.

Steel pipe manufacturing began at Stanton afterWorld War Iand later concrete pipes were produced, Stanton being the first in the UK to develop the 'spun pipe' process.

A restored Stanton Wagon, Chalons Way, Ilkeston

In the mid-19th century the works produced 20,000 tons of iron castings per year, 2.5 millions by 1905. Up to 12,500 people were employed during the period when the works were part of British Steel Corporation, of which 7,000 worked at the Stanton works.

During its long existence the works produced huge quantities of a variety of products, including pig iron, tunnel castings, (used in projects such as theLondon Underground), pipes and street furniture as well as bitumen, roadstone, chemicals and munition casings.

The works gradually declined, the business being run from 1985 by the FrenchSaint-GobainGroup. The last casting was an emotional event in 2007.The huge Stanton site has been partially given over to business park and the rest of the site is earmarked for redevelopment which is subject to local opposition.

Ilkeston Charter fair

Ilkeston Market Place is the site of aCharter fair.The fair celebrated its 770th anniversary in 2022, the Charter being granted byKing Henry IIIin 1252. This makes the fair older thanNottingham's famousGoose Fairand it is one of the largest street fairs in the Country, indeed in Europe.

The present fair developed from two separate fairs, as another 'agricultural hiring fair' or 'Statutes Fair' was traditionally held onWakes weekin October as well as the original Charter Fair which was held on the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (15 August). The two fairs were combined in 1888 and the one Charter Fair has been held in October ever since.

Since 1931 the fair has been officially opened by the Mayor - first of Ilkeston and since 1974 ofErewash- on the Fair Thursday at noon with the Town Clerk (Chief Executive) reading the Charter from the steps of the Town Hall.

Transport

Railway

Ilkeston did not have a railway station from 1967 to 2017, despite its substantial population and the fact that theErewash Valley Line(formerly part of theMidland Railway,later theLMS) skirts the eastern edge of the town. Ilkeston once had three railway stations.Ilkeston Junction station,also known as "Ilkeston Junction & Cossall" was on the former Midland Railway and laterLMSErewash Valley Main Line: this station closed in January 1967. A short branch led from this station toIlkeston Town station,at the north end of Bath Street, which closed to passengers in June 1947.

Ilkeston's third station wasIlkeston North,on the formerGreat Northern Railway(laterLNER) line from Nottingham toDerby Friargate station,closed in September 1964. A major feature of this line wasBennerley Viaduct,a 1,452-foot (443 m) long, 61-foot (19 m) high, wrought iron structure which still crosses the Erewash valley just to the north east of Ilkeston. Once threatened with demolition, it is now a Grade 2 listed building, though the line and embankments have long since been removed. The Viaduct has been the subject of much renewed interest and has been reopened to the public as part of a cycleway and footpath.

Following a long-running local campaign, in March 2013 Transport SecretaryPatrick McLoughlinannounced that Ilkeston was one of three sites 'most likely' to get a new station as part of the 'New Stations Fund', costing £5 million and sited close to the oldIlkeston Junction station.On 15 May 2013 it was announced this new station would be built, which would be namedIlkeston station.It has two platforms, which can take six trains per hour with up to six passenger cars and includes waiting shelters. A 150 space car park, cycle storage, bus stop, drop off point and taxi rank are also on site. The station is unmanned with automated ticket machines.

Due to flood prevention work and the discovery of great crested newts, the opening was significantly delayed, the new station opened on 2 April 2017.

Buses

Trentbartonoperates the majority of buses around Ilkeston, including theIlkeston Flyerinto Derby, My15 into Long Eaton andEast Midlands Airport,The Two into Nottingham, 31 into Kirk Hallam, 32 into Derby, 33 into Mansfield, and 34 into Hucknall.In addition,Notts + Derbyand Littles Travel operate someDerbyshire County Counciltendered routes around Ilkeston, the latter operating the 14A and 14B routes intoStanton by DaleandSandiacre.

Ilkeston spa baths

From early in the 19th century the existence of natural mineral waters was noted here and exploited. A local businessman Thomas Potter built, in 1831, the famous Ilkeston Bath at the bottom of Town Street attached to the Rutland Hotel.For over 60 years the baths helped tourism to the town at a time when spa towns like Bath and Harrogate enjoyed popularity. 'If you're doubled in pain and thin as a lath, Come at once then and try, the famed Ilkeston Bath,' was a well known advertising slogan. A mixture of a general decline in the popularity of spa bathing and, reportedly, contamination of the waters from mining activities led to the eventual closure of the baths just before 1900. The baths and the adjacent Rutland Hotel, which also enjoyed a revenue from tourism, no longer exist though they are remembered in the name of 'Bath Street'.

Sport

Football

• The originalIlkeston Townwas liquidated in 2010 after a 114-year history.Ilkeston FCwas formed the following year, which was in turn liquidated in 2017. However, by July 2017 a new club,Ilkeston Town F.C.founded by the former owner ofNotts CountyAlan Hardy, replaced the liquidatedIlkeston FC,and the new club's home ground was established on the New Manor Ground, on Awsworth Road.

Rugby

• Ilkeston Rugby Club (known as the "Elks" ) is aRugby unionclub founded in 1926.The home ground is based at 'The Stute', Hallam Fields Road.

Cricket

• Ilkeston Rutland Cricket Club(established in 1829) is based on Rutland Sports Park.The club currently has 4 senior teams in theDerbyshire County Cricket League,and a well established Junior section playing competitive cricket in theErewash Young Cricketers League.

First-Class County games
Every season between 1925 and 1994, theDerbyshire County Cricket Clubplayed up to a couple offirst-class cricketmatches on theRutland Recreation Ground,andone-day matchesbetween 1970 and 1994.

Tennis

• Ilkeston Tennis Club is based on Rutland Sports Parkand is a member of the Derby Tennis League.It is claimed to be the largest tennis club in Ilkeston, offering tennis for all ages and abilities as well as professional coaching.Facilities include 4 Outdoor Tennis Courts and 3 indoor tennis courts.
• Stanton Tennis Club is a private tennis establishment situated at The Stute Hallam Fields Road, sports complex. There are 3 private tennis courts at this tennis facility.

Basketball

• Ilkeston Outlaws Basketball Club, established 1966, field's teams in the local Sherwood Basketball Leagueand the Basketball England National League.The Ilkeston Outlaws Basketball Club have two main junior basketball teams: theIlkeston HawksandIlkeston Falconsfor ages 4–18 years.

Golf

• Ilkeston Borough Golf Club was founded in 1929 and has access to a 9-hole course (known as 'Pewit Golf Course') located off West End Drive, Ilkeston.The Course is owned, managed and maintained byErewashBorough Council.

Media

Local news and television programmes areBBC East MidlandsandITV Central.Television signals are received from theWalthamTV transmitter,and the Nottingham relay transmitter.

The town is served by bothBBC Radio Nottinghamon 103.8 FM andBBC Radio Derbyon 104.5 FM. Other radio stations includingSmooth East Midlandson 106.6 FM,Capital East Midlandson 96.2 FM,Greatest Hits Radio Midlandson 106.6 FM andErewash Sound,a community based radio station on 96.8 FM.

The town is served by the Ilkeston Advertiserand Ilkeston Life newspapers.

Twin towns

Ilkeston istwinnedwith:

• Châlons-en-Champagnein France, since 1957.

Notable residents

• Samuel Taylor (1816–1875), the famous 'Ilson Giant' who reached the height of 7' 4 ", was born nearby at Hallam Fields. His grave in Stanton Road Cemetery was restored by the Cemetery's Friends in 2008.
• Stanley Hawley(1867-1916), pianist and composer, was born at 61 South Street, and died at his sister's house on Derby Road at the age of 49.
• William Roache,who playsKen BarlowinCoronation Street,grew up in Ilkeston. He now holds the world record as the longest-serving actor to play the same role continuously, having been with the show since its inception in December 1960.
• Robert Lindsay,the stage and television actor probably best known for his parts inCitizen Smithand latterlyMy Family,was born as Robert Lindsay Stevenson in Ilkeston on 13 December 1949. Before he became an actor he worked at the nearbyStanton & Staveleysteel works and also attended the Ilkeston detachment of the Army Cadet Force.
• Linda Armstrong,an actress, born in Ilkeston
• Robert Holmes FRGS (born 1943), photographer, author and adventurer. Member of the RGS 150th Anniversary expedition to theKarakoram,Fellow of the Explorers Club of New York.
• John Paxton(1819–1868), cricketer
• Ben Robertswho played Chief InspectorDerek Conwayin ITV'sThe Bill
• Alf Freeman(1904-1966), football player

Gallery

• 
  Armstrong's Mill
• 
  Park Cemetery Chapel
• 
  St Mary's Church
• 
  North Side of Market Place
• 
  United Reformed Church
• 
  Ilkeston Town Hall
• 
  Needle Makers Pub
• 
  Stanton Ironworks Oct 2008 (demolished Autumn 2009)
• 
  Stanton Ironworks Remnants
• 
  Our Lady and St Thomas of Hereford Roman Catholic Church
• 
  Helter skelter at Ilkeston Fair
• 
  Bennerley Viaduct

Ilkeston skyline

See also

• Listed buildings in Ilkeston
• Ilkeston Corporation Tramways
• Ilkeston Grammar School
• Ilkeston Community Hospital

External links

• Ilkeston & District Local History Society