ILKESTON, a market-town and parish, in the hundred of MORLESTON-AND-LITCHURCH, county of DERBY, 9 miles (N.E. by E.) from Derby, and 128 (N.W.byN.) from London, containing 3681 inhabitants. This place, anciently called Elchestane, obtained a grant for a market and a fair in 1251. Its ancient importance may be inferred from a tradition that the assizes were formerly held here, having been transferred from Nottingham on account of the plague; in consequence of which, the inhabitants of Hkeston were privileged to pay but half 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 border of Nottinghamshire. From time immemorial the people of Ilkeston 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. The town stands on a hill, near the river Erewash, commanding beautiful prospects in every direction, and the situation is healthy; but though there are several springs, the supply of water is not abundant. Considerable advantage is anticipated from the recent discovery of a mineral spring, the properties of which are said to be different from those of any other spa in England, resembling the Seltzer water from Germany. The Ilkeston water appears to contain carbonates of lime and soda, muriate of lime, sulphates of magnesia and soda, a small quantity of iron, and a large portion of carbonic acid gas; and it has been found an efficacious remedy, both internally and externally, in cases of indigestion, diseases of the liver, gravel, gout, scrofula, and cutaneous affections. The spa is at the north end of the town, where a building with a neat front has been erected, comprising everyaccommodation for bathing. The Old bath, so called because it was the first discovered, was built in September 1829; and there are two slipper-baths, lined with marble, having a shower-bath over each of them, together with convenient dressing-rooms; a cistern for water, heated by steam, contains three thousand gallons, and the cold cistern contains fifteen hundred gallons; these supply the baths with water of any required temperature. Since the discovery of the medicinal spring, Ilkeston has been much frequented: it is in contemplation to form a public library; and there is a choral society, under the direction of which an annual performance of sacred music takes place in the parish church. The principal branches of manufacture carried on are those of stockings and lace; the former affords employment to about four hundred persons, but it is said to be declining; the. latter, which is flourishing, employs one hundred and twenty men, and a great number of women and children. The parish abounds with various and extensive veins of coal and iron-stone. In a stratum of hard coal, now in operation, there is a vein of lead-ore, spar, martial pyrites, and coal intermingled, but the ore, though fine, exists only in small quantities. Both the Erewash and the Nutbrook canals pass through this parish, affording a communication with the rivers Trent and Mersey. The market, chiefly for fruit and vegetables, is held on Thursday; and there are fairs, March 6th, Whit-Thursday, and the first Thursday after Christmasday, for horses, cattle, sheep, and hogs. Courts leet and baron for the manor are held under the Duke of Rutland. The living is a discharged vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Derby, and diocese of Lichfield and Coventry, rated in the king's books at £5. 7. 9., endowed with £ 600 royal bounty, and in the patronage of the Duke of Rutland. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is an ancient structure, with a lofty tower of modern date; and in the interior is a stone screen in the early English style, together with some interesting ancient monuments. An application has recently been made to the parliamentary commissioners, for a grant for the erection of a new church or chapel. There are places of worship for General and Particular Baptists, Independents, Wesleyan Methodists, and Unitarians. In 1704, the Rev. Mr. Courtman bequeathed land producing £2 per annum for the education of poor children, the proceeds being now paid to the account of a Sunday school, which is principally supported by subscription. A charity school for thirty children is endowed with £ 10 per annum, from a benefaction by Richard Smedley, who, in 1744, gave a rent-charge of £ 60 for the establishment of this and other schools, and for the foundation and endowment of almshouses for six poor women, who receive £ 5 per annum each; there are likewise four unendowed ahnshouses.