Ilkeston

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ILKESTON - Description from Pigot's 1835 Directory

ILKESTON is small, improving market-town, and watering place, of modern date, in the parish of its name and hundred of Morleston and Litchurch, about nine miles and a half N. E. from Derby, eight W. by N. from Nottingham, nearly 15 S. by W. from Mansfield, and ten S.E. from Belper. It stands on an elevated site near the river Erewash, commanding beautiful prospects in every direction, and its situation is considered remarkably healthy. Both the Erewash and the Nutbrook canals pass through the parish, affording a communication with the rivers Trent and Mersey. This place was anciently called Elchestane, and obtained a grant for a market and fair so early as 1251.

Its ancient importance may be inferred from a tradition that the assizes were formerly held here, having been removed from the town of Nottingham on account of the plague: in consequence of which, the inhabitants of Ilkeston were permitted to pay but a moiety of toll at fairs and markets, on condition of their keeping in repair a gallows for the execution of criminals, which stands at the southern extremity of the parish, on the borders of Nottinghamshire. From time immemorial the people of Ilkestone have claimed this privilege at the neighbouring fairs, but being unable to produce any charter in support of their claim they have been resisted on some occasions.

Courts-leet and baron are held under the Duke of Rutland. The parish abounds with various and extensive veins of coal and, iron-stone; and lead-ore has been procured here, but not in large quantities. The chief manufactures are those for stockings and lace; the former has much declined, but the latter branch flourishes, and is carried on by numerous respectable establishments. Malt is made here to some extent, and in the vicinity are several corn mills.

Considerable advantage is derived by the town from its mineral water, which is becoming highly estimated, both as applied externally and internally - Internally it is an alterative, diuretic and anti-acid: externally, as a warm-bath, it has proved efficacious in most chronic complaints; and especially in rheumatism, scorbutic eruptions, gout, scrofula, and in all diseases arising from obstructed perspiration. The spa is obtained from the depth of about fifty yards, by a steam-engine erected for that purpose.

The increasing success of the water has induced the proprietors, Messrs Potters', to erect a suitable building, containing hot, cold, swimming, slipper, and shower baths. The water has been analyzed by Dr. Fyfe, of Edinburgh, Dr. Calvert, of Derby, and Mr. Grieves, of Nottingham, who pronounce it to contain, besides other ingredients, an alkaline carbonate, the only impregnation of the kind yet discovered in this island, and resembling that of Seltzer, in, Germany.

The places of worship are, the parish church, and chapels for unitarians, general baptists, independents, and Wesleyan and primitive methodists. The church, which is dedicated to St. Mary, is an ancient structure, with a lofty tower of modern date: it contains some interesting monuments, and a stone-screen of early workmanship. The living is a discharged vicarage, in the gift of the crown, and incumbency of the Rev. Jervis Brown; his present curate is the Rev. H. Moxon. The market, which is of great benefit to the in inhabitants is held on Thursday: the fairs take place on the 6th March, Whit-Thursday, and the first Thursday after Christmas day, for horses, cattle, sheep & hogs; there is also a statute fair for hiring servants, held on the last Thursday in October.

The parish of Ilkeston (which has no dependent township) contained, in 1821, 3,681 inhabitants, and in 1831, 4,446.

[Description from Pigot and Co's Commercial Directory for Derbyshire, 1835
Transcribed by Rosemary Lockie ©1999]

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