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.

HEANOR is a neat village and populous township, in the parish of its name, and in the same hundred as Ilkeston, about four miles N.N.W. from that town, eight and a half N.E. from Derby, and eight S. from Alfreton. This place, which was formerly a market-town, is pleasantly situate on an eminence, and the eastern boundary of the parish is watered by the Erewash river. Many of the inhabitants are employed in the neighbouring coal works, and others in the manufacture of lace.

The places of worship are, the parish church, dedicated to St. Michael, and chapels for independents and Wesleyan methodists. The living of Heanor is a discharged vicarage, in the patronage of the crown. The ruins of the ancient castle of Codnor, founded by Richard de Grey in the reign of Henry III, may here be traced over a considerable extent of ground, and some of the walls are still standing. The market market, formerly held on Wednesday, has long been discontinued; an attempt was made to revive it some few years ago, but without success.

The entire parish contained, in 1821, 4,981 inhabitants, and in 1831, 5,380, of which last number 2,672 were returned for the township.

BREASON is a village and township, in the parish of Sawley, nearly eight miles E.S.E. from Derby. The chapel here, under the establishment, is dedicated to St. Michael, and the living is a perpetual curacy, annexed to that of Risley, in the peculiar jurisdiction and patronage of the prebendary of Sawley, in the cathedral church of Lichfield. The township contained, at the last census, 642 inhabitants.

DRAYCOTT is a village, in the joint liberty of Draycott and Wilne, in the parish of Sawley, about seven miles S.E. front Derby. A manufactory for spinning cotton gives employment to many of the inhabitants, but the majority are employed in agriculture. The number of persons in the liberty, in the year 1831, was 1,074.

RISLEY is a small village and township, partly in the parish of Sawley, and partly in that of Sandiacre, in the same hundred as Ilkeston, about four miles, south, from that town, one and a half, north, from Breason, and about seven and a half, east, from Derby. This manor was formerly held by Sir Hugh Willoughby, the celebrated navigator, who sailed on the 10th of May, 1555, with three ships, in search of a north-east passage, and was frozen to death, with all his crew, in the January following, in the Frozen Ocean.

In Thomson's Seasons this melancholy event is thus most feelingly and emphatically described:

The free-school here was erected by Mrs. Elizabeth Gray in 1718, but the principal endowment originated from Mrs. Catherine Wilson at all earlier date.

The township contained, in 1831, 252 inhabitants, being only an increase of twenty-seven persons in 30 years.

SHIPLEY is a township, in the parish of Heanor, about nine and a half miles N.E. by E. from Derby. The Nutbrook canal and several railways communicate with the coal mines about here. Population, at the last census, 632.

SANDIACRE is a village, in the small parish of its name, in the same hundred as Ilkeston, about four miles, south, from that town, & about nine, east, from Derby, situate close to the western boundary of the county of Nottingham. A market and fair was formerly held in the village, but at present little importance belongs to it as a place of trade.

The places of worship are, the parish church, and a chapel for Wesleyan methodists: the former, which is dedicated to St. Giles, is of considerable antiquity; the windows have some remains of stained glass, and in the chancel are three stone stalls. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the peculiar jurisdiction and patronage of the prebendary of Sandiacre, in the cathedral church of Lichfield.

Part of the township of Risley extends into this parish, which contained, in 1831, 758 inhabitants.

WEST HALLAM is a small parish (having no dependent township) in the same hundred as Ilkeston, two miles S.W. from that town. It contains the parish church, which is dedicated to St. Wilfrid, and a free school, originally endowed by the Rev. John Scargill, in 1662. The living of Hallam is a discharged rectory, in the patronage (some years since) of Francis Newdigate, Esq. The parish contained, in 1831, 710 inhabitants.

POST, ILKESTON:- There is no regular Post Office; letters are brought to and despatched from this place by carrier.

Description(s) from Pigot and Co's Commercial Directory for Derbyshire, 1835.
Transcribed by Rosemary Lockie in May 1996.