About Ilkeston

Eastwood, a nearby mining village, is the birthplace of D. H. Lawrence , and many of his novels are set in the area.

Ilkeston town

Ilkeston town is situated in the Erewash Valley, 9 miles N.E of Derby and 8 miles N.W of Nottingham. It is the third largest town in Derbyshire.

Standing on a hill, this former mining community was mentioned in Domesday when it was known as Tilchestune. The pits have closed in Ilkeston but it still a busy industrial town, whose many industries include engineering,hosiery, lace and fabrics, electronics, plastic and food distribution. A history of the town's industrial past is told in the Erewash Museum, housed in a fine Georgian building in the High Street.

Despite it's industrial outlook, parks, trees and flower beds are a feature of the community and there is some pleasant countryside around the towm.

Perfectly Placed

Ilkeston offers an unrivalled shopping and leisure experience, being perfectly placed between Nottingham and Derby, with excellent transport links.

Ilkeston appears to have begun as a hilltop settlement of the Anglo Saxon Chief Ealac (or ‘The Elk’) around the 6th century AD. Later, in 1252 the Lord of the manor was awarded a Charter, permitting a weekly market and annual fair. The market and fair continue to flourish in the town. The market place is brought to life every Thursday and Saturday offering an excellent range of goods, from toys, confectionery and greeting cards to electrical goods, books and clothes. The Ilkeston fair, in October, has become an event not to be missed, which is now one of the largest street fairs in Britain.

Ilkeston has over 200 shops of all sizes, offering a wide variety of goods and services to the discerning customer. Many of the leading high street retailers are in the town, along with a superb range of independent shops. A variety of these can be found in the pleasant surroundings of the covered Albion Centre. This diversity of shops in Ilkeston enables all your shopping needs to be catered for in one visit, saving you time and money. So, whether you are looking for toys and china gifts, or a morning suit and millinery for a wedding, Ilkeston has it all for you

St Mary's Church dates back to around the year 1200, but little is left from this period apart from the 3 East piers between the nave and the South aisle. The nave was doubled in length when the church w as enlarged in 1909-10 by P. H. Currey, and the tower was rebuilt in a new position. It contains a rare and remarkable early 14th century stone screen. There is a well preserved effigy of a cross-legged knight, presumed to be that of Nicholas de Cantelupe, who died in 1272. The Cantelupes were lords of the manor in the 13th century.

Opposite the church is the Town Hall, a modest barogue brick building of 1868. It was extended in 1974. Another interesting building in the market place is large red brick Carnegie Library, built in 1904 by Hunter and Woodhouse of Belper, with it's decorative Art Nouveau stone panels between the small windows under the eaves.

Sport is well catered for in Ilkeston, with an 18 hole golf club just south of the town. Cricket is played at the Rutland Recreation Ground, so called, because the Dukes of Rutland once owned much of the land here. It has a football team and a rugby team. A swimming complex known as the Victoria Park Leisure Centre is situated in Manner Road and there is a 10 pin bowling alley in the town centre.

Next - ILKESTON HISTORY

Film and TV

The town has been used as a filming location for the hit television series Playing The Field  shown on BBC 1. Also a number of other shows have used Ilkeston and surrounding areas. 

Ilkeston is also the birthplace of actor Robert Lindsay, well known for his part in `Me and My Girl`, 'My Family' and more recently 'Horatio Hornblower'.

Ilkeston Fair

Until the second half of the 18th century, Ilkeston was a relatively small, agricultural settlement. In 1252 the Lord of the Manor of 'Elkesdon' was awarded a charter, permitting a weekly market and an annual fair. The fair was originally held in August, but later evolved into a 'statutes' or hiring fair in October. From the mid-19th century onwards, the entertainment aspect took over, leading to the popular annual event which continues to this day.