Old Ilkeston

Welcome to Old Ilkeston – the growing story of a Victorian town

You probably don’t recognise this distinguished chap but his family relationships are responsible for the naming of Kniveton Park in Ilkeston

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Do you know where Criterion House still is ?

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This is Stanley Villa at 11 Burr Lane: what is the origin of its Victorian name ?

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Spot the Ilkeston connection ?

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What is being auctioned here in the 1890s ? Who owns it ? Where is it ?

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What is the significance of this date … and where is it ?

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Careless use of this tonsorial instrument led to a court case and a £3 fine

Built in 1848-49, this chapel building still stands today. Do you know where it is and what it is now ?

Recent Additions for 2026

January 21st ... the sad death of John Ralph Melland Thompson junior (1929) of 1 Barker Gate

January 20th ... more detail on the Hobson and Hodgkinson families of the Market Place

January 19th ... some new photos of the Hodgkinson family thanks to Jeremy Hodgkinson

January 14th ... more detail on the Station Road cottage hospital

January 12th ... a new page on Ilkeston's sewerage system

January 5th ... 1886: the Duke of Rutland and his Common tenants

January 4th ... 1886; Solomon Beardsley and his miller cross swords in court

January 3rd ... the marital problems of the builder brothers Thomas and William Manners

January 2nd ... loan problems for Bath Street grocer Amos Beardsley -- too trusting or naive or just unlucky ?

January 1st ... the mysterious marriage of William Warner

December 31st (2025) ... an updated Supplementary index for all recent additions

A list of all updates for 2025 can be found here

Check out Ilkeston Ancestry , our exciting Facebook group.

You can write to the site with questions or stories, or contribute your own material.

Use the Contact Form (left) or email me - [email protected]

To find your way around the site, there is a guide, a main index to the Grand Tour, and a supplementary index which is updated every month. You can also use the search boxes -- top right and top left --- or use the menus on most of the pages.

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The Victorian Era ends

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Jim Beardsley has very kindly loaned a bundle of unique documents to the Old Ilkeston site from his personal collection. The papers include fascinating details of Victorian property ownership. All of the plans below are from Jim’s collection.

Any idea what this plan below is showing ? .. there are lots of clues within it.