Ilkeston

Ilkeston Market Place in about 1926

Ilkeston Market Place in 1986

Situated on the eastern boundary of Derbyshire overlooking the Erewash Valley and near to the M1 motorway, Ilkeston is one of the County's larger towns with a population at the 2001 Census of 37,550.

1 History
2 Culture
3 Talking Ilson
4 Famous residents
5 FEEDBACK

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History

Ilkeston was probably founded in the 6th century AD, and gets its name from its supposed founder, Elch or Elcha, who was an Anglian chieftain - Elka's Town becoming Ilkeston over the years. The town appears as Tilchestune in the Domesday Book.

Ilkeston was granted Borough status by Queen Victoria in 1887 and became part of the Borough of Erewash in 1974.

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Culture

Ilkeston Fair

The town is the site of Ilkeston Fair which celebrated its 750th anniversary in 2002. This is one of the largest street funfairs in the country, taking over Ilkeston Market Place and all the major shopping streets and car parks in the town centre for four days every October. Ilkeston's Market and Fairs Charter was granted by King Henry III in 1252.

Ilkeston's major industries were traditionally coal mining, iron working, lace making and textiles, but all these greatly declined during the later 20th Century.

It has a thriving football team in Ilkeston Town F C, who play at the New Manor Ground to the north-east of the town.

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Talking Ilson

Ilkeston and the Erewash Valley are one of the few areas where the distinctive dialect of East Midlands English is extensively spoken. Ilkeston is referred to as 'Ilson' in this dialect.

Several lighthearted books were published on Erewash Valley English in the 1980's by John Titford and the late Rick Scollins under the 'Ey Up Mi Duck' title, and some are still in print.

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Famous residents

Alf Baker

Famous people born in Ilkeston include actors Robert Lindsay and William Roache (see Roache, William: The Rover who has kept returning - for 45 years), and footballer Alf Baker (see Baker, Alfred - Ilkeston-born Arsenal and England Footballer) who played in Arsenal’s first ever FA Cup final in 1927.

Samuel Taylor (1816-1875) known as 'The Il'son Giant' who reached the height of 7' 4" was born at Hallam Fields (see Taylor, Samuel - The Ilkeston Giant). His grave in Stanton Road Cemetery has recently been restored by the Cemetery's Friends.

Pages linking here

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FEEDBACK

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