Welcome to the Ilkeston and District Local History Society (IDLHS)
Meetings and events
Inn signs and Local History
Inn signs and Local History
with Robert Mee. How your favourite pub got its name and how that changed over time. Free to members, guests welcome at £3.
The BBC and the Bomb
The BBC and the Bomb
with Ian Betson. Cold War Broadcasting from the Bunkers – a look at the Cold War preparations for the Third World War. Free to members, £3 for guests.
Derbyshire Well Dressings
Derbyshire Well Dressings
by Janet and Paul Barrass. The history and practice of this old tradition. Free to members, guests £3.
Bennerley Viaduct – latest developments
Bennerley Viaduct – latest developments
The Friends of Bennerley Viaduct bring us up to date – Free to members and £3 to visitors Preceded by the Society’s AGM, which ought not to take more than
Commonwealth War Graves Commission records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission records
Sarah Moody of the CWGC talks about the records they hold and the stories they can tell us. Free to members, guests welcome at £3.
Trowell through Time
Trowell through Time
A history of our neighbouring parish – with Beverley Kilby
The Sand between your Toes
The Sand between your Toes
A nostalgic look at the holiday, with Ann Featherstone
“My Mum had one of Those!”
“My Mum had one of Those!”
Janet and Paul Barrass explore the world of familiar domestic objects of the past
The Old Curiosity Boxes
The Old Curiosity Boxes
An interactive experience… what’s in the box?
“I’ll Polish Him Off!” The curious history of Sweeney Todd
“I’ll Polish Him Off!” The curious history of Sweeney Todd
By Ann Featherstone
Who we are and what we do
About Us
Welcome to the Ilkeston and District Local History Society (IDLHS) website. If you are a new visitor, please find time to browse through the pages. The site features information on the history of Ilkeston and district and you can find more about the Society on the About the IDLHS page.
Find out more about IDLHS
Contact Us
Membership
Why not join? Membership would bring you several benefits. All members receive the Society’s magazine, The Herald several times a year and can attend all our indoor speaker meetings, outside visits and walks free of charge (excluding external entry fees and transport costs). It’s only £12 yearly each or £18 for a couple at the same address (2025).
Find out more here
Contact Us
Ilkeston and District Local History Society are pleased to help with any general enquiries that visitors to the site may have. We cannot undertake any genealogical or large scale research on your behalf, but we will at least do our best to answer any questions.
Contact Us
News & Stories
The new edition of our WW2 book is now available!
Only £10 (plus p&p if posting).
Plaque to local explosives expert and marksman
Our plaque on his former home at 'Ferns Hollow' on Station Road, Ilkeston marks the birthplace of a famous son of...
Marking the 1916 Zeppelin bombing
On 31st January 1916 a Zeppelin flew over the East Midlands passing over Ilkeston and the Stanton Iron Works and...
Ilkeston as it was — Its history in 50 chapters
by Ann Featherstone and Beverley Kilby A look at some of the events, people and things that have shaped the Ilkeston...
Stanley Hawley F.R.A.M. (1867-1916), Musician and composer
The Society's commemorative plaque to the town's almost forgotten son is at 61 South Street — Ogden’s the Butcher....
Kirk Hallam
by Beverley Kilby Widening the Nutbrook Canal Bridge, 1950's - looking towards Spondon, St Norbert Drive / Godfrey...
Cossall
Just east of Ilkeston is the village of Cossall which, like Trowell, was once part of Lord Middleton's...
Trowell
Just over the border into Nottinghamshire is the village of Trowell, which is probably most famous for being the...
Shipley
An area known for its coal, theme park and now a country park, Shipley has a very varied history. Shipley Hall, around...
West Hallam
The Village in the 1920s Although it is not known exactly when the first settlement appeared, West Hallam is mentioned...
Death of a Crimean War veteran
William Clements (1824-1909), Extracted from the Ilkeston Pioneer, 30 April 1909 "The small remaining band of Crimean...
Wartime childhood memories
by David Kirk As I was born in December 1937, my memories of this conflict are limited but I have tried to give some...
The first Lord Ilkeston
Sir Balthazar Walter Foster PC FRCP was born to Balthazar Foster and his wife Marian on 17th July 1840. In 1847 the...
The remarkable Short Brothers
(a longer read) by Danny Corns Many years ago, former Society Chairman David Harrison told me of a connection between...
The Mayor, the King and the Old Bailey
(A longer read) From information kindly supplied by Michael Harmer John and Gertrude Macdonald were married on 23rd...
An Ilkeston man in the American Civil War
(A longer read) The complicated life of George Newman George Newman was born in Northamptonshire in September 1834....
Publications
The Society sells a variety of publications both by the IDLHS and by others. These can be purchased directly from the Society by post.
Prices shown include postage and packing but only relate to UK postage rates. For overseas orders or other enquiries relating to these publications please contact the Secretary at the address below. Please note that postage rates can change, so the Society reserves the right to amend prices without prior notice.
Find out more by clicking here