ILKESTON, Derbyshire - Extract from National Gazetteer, 1868

"ILKESTON, a parish and market town in the hundred of Morleston, county Derby, 8 miles N.W. of Nottingham, its post town, and 10 N.E. of Derby. It is a station on the Erewash Valley branch of the Midland railway. This parish, anciently called Elchestane, is watered by the river Erewash, and the Erewash and the Nutbrook canals pass through it. It contains the hamlets of Little Hallam and Cotmanhay. Ilkeston of late has considerably increased in importance and become a favourite watering-place owing to the discovery of a mineral spring, the properties of which are said to be different from those of any other spa in England, and to resemble the Seltzer water of Germany.

There are commodious baths adjoining the Rutland Arms Railway hotel. The water is used externally as well as internally. The parish abounds with coal and ironstone, and traces of lead have been observed. The manufacture of stockings and lace has declined, but there are extensive brick and lime kilns, also manufactories of stone bottles, fire-brick, garden pots, and common earthenware.

The town, which stands on a lofty eminence near the river Erewash, commands extensive views of the surrounding country. Ilkeston obtained the grant of a market and fair in 1251. The Notts assizes were held here during the plague, and the town is at present a polling place for the southern division of the county.

Courts leet and baron for the manor are held under the Duke of Rutland. The tithes were commuted for land and money payments under an Act of Enclosure in 1794. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Lichfield, value £290. There is also a district church at Cotmanhay, the living of which is a perpetual curacy*, value £150, in the patronage of the crown and bishop alternately.

The parish church, dedicated to St. Mary, lately restored at a cost of £4,000, has a lofty tower of modern date containing five bells. In the interior are a stone screen and several ancient monuments. There are schools for boys and girls, held in two buildings lately erected at a cost of £800. The parochial charities produce about £120 per annum, of which £60 goes to Smedley's schools and almshouses, situated at various places.

The Independents, Wesleyans, Baptists, Unitarians, and Primitive Methodists have each a chapel with Sunday-schools attached. The British schools, erected in 1845, form a commodious brick building, affording accommodation for 120 boys and 60 girls. The Duke of Rutland is lord of the manor. Market day is Thursday, for pigs, meat, butter, cheese, poultry, &c. Fairs are held on 5th March, Whit-Thursday, and Thursday after Christmas, also a statute fair in October."

"COTMANHAY, a hamlet and chapelry in the parish of Ilkeston, in the county of Derby, 8 miles N.E. of Derby. It is situated on the Erewash canal. The living is a perpetual curacy, value £150, in the patronage of the crown and bishop alternately."

"LITTLE HALLAM, a hamlet in the parish of Ilkeston, hundred of Morleston, county Derby, 8 miles E. of Derby, and 2 from Ilkeston, its post town. It is situated near the river Erewash."

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)
Transcribed by Colin HINSON ©2003]