Welcome to the Ilkeston and District Local History Society (IDLHS)
Meetings and events
Subterranean Nottinghamshire
Subterranean Nottinghamshire
A Journey Underground with Dave Mooney.
Tombs of Royal Women
Tombs of Royal Women
Commemorating the Royal Dead by Charlotte McCrory
Derbyshire and the Peak District in the Gothic imagination
Derbyshire and the Peak District in the Gothic imagination
Local folklore, legends and Gothic Fiction, with Victoria Langford.
The Christmas “Radio Times”
The Christmas “Radio Times”
Robert Mee looks at Festive Offerings from the BBC since 1923.
Derbyshire Folk Songs, Stories and Folklore
Derbyshire Folk Songs, Stories and Folklore
A seasonal event featuring the folk songs and stories of the locality. With Pete Castle
Anthony Babington and the Babington Plot
Anthony Babington and the Babington Plot
How one man from Dethick became embroiled in a plot to free Mary Queen of Scots which led to her ultimate downfall. By Danielle Burton
Life in Derby in the 1950’s
Life in Derby in the 1950’s
A trip 70 years down ‘Memory Lane’. With Paul Sturges
A.G.M. and The Potty Plotters
A.G.M. and The Potty Plotters
The Society’s Annual General Meeting, followed by “The Potty Plotters” – keen Allotmenteers who regularly podcast. Funny and occasionally rude – you have been warned!
Dracula returns to Derby
Dracula returns to Derby
Unearthing the connections to the City of Derby following new research, with Dan Webber
Margaret Cavendish: “Mad Madge”?
Margaret Cavendish: “Mad Madge”?
Pioneering natural philosopher, poet, fiction writer, and playwright who lived at Bolsover and Welbeck. By Danielle Burton
An ‘Ilson’ Miscellany
An ‘Ilson’ Miscellany
Interesting bits and bobs from 60 years of the Society’s Newsletters and Social Media. With Grant Shaw
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 £20 yearly each or £30 for a couple at the same address (2026).
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
Fletcher’s Fizz
By Jeff Wynch William Fletcher came to Ilkeston from his home town of Southwell to set up as a chemist on Bath Street...
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...
Fred Fletcher – champion cyclist
A second Society plaque now adorns the walls of the Sir John Warren in the...
Ilkeston’s Main Post Office 1922-1989
Extracted from the Ilkeston Pioneer newspaper 10th March 1922 “Time works continuous changes, and the old order of things give place to the new. The...
Holy Trinity Parish Church, Mapperley
Mapperley has a long history and is mentioned in the Domesday Book. A Chapel was established here in about 1230 by Hugh de Strelley by arrangement...
Kirk Hallam
by Beverley Kilby Widening the Nutbrook Canal Bridge, 1950's - looking towards Spondon, St Norbert Drive / Godfrey Drive junction in middle...
Cossall
Just east of Ilkeston is the village of Cossall which, like Trowell, was once part of Lord Middleton's estate. One of...
Trowell
Just over the border into Nottinghamshire is the village of Trowell, which is probably most famous for being the Festival of Britain Village in...
John ‘Jack’ Lally
An inspirational teacher by Danny Corns John or Jack to his friends, “Pop” to his pupils, was a founder member of the...
The fastest barber in town?
Joseph Wright of Ilkeston 1861-1942 Joe Wright was a well known Ilkeston character at the beginning of the last...
Ilson adverts
How many of these businesses of years gone by do you remember?
The ‘Squire’ of Shipley Hall
The life of Alfred Miller Mundy ‘Squire’ Alfred Miller Mundy (9 January 1809 – 29 March 1877) of Shipley Hall was born...
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...
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