Welcome to the Ilkeston and District Local History Society (IDLHS)
Meetings and events
Tales from the Five Boroughs
Tales from the Five Boroughs
James Aitcheson tells stories of the Vikings, the Normans and the East Midlands.
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
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
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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...
The new edition of our WW2 book is now available!
Only £14 inc UK P&P
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...
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...
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....
Great War stories
(A longer read) When we think of the First World War, most of us think of trenches, machine guns and mud in France and...
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