Ilkeston is a town in Derbyshire, in the East Midlands region of England, on the River Erewash. Its major industries were formerly coal mining, iron working and textiles, but all these have greatly declined. It is the site of Ilkeston Charter Fair which celebrated its 750th anniversary in 2002.
The town is quite close to both Derby and Nottingham and is near to the M1 motorway. Although the town lies within Derbyshire, it is closer to Nottingham, the city limit of which is only two miles from Ilkeston's eastern edge. Due to recent urban development in the area between Ilkeston and Nottingham, Ilkeston is considered by the Office for National Statistics to be part of Nottingham's metropolitan area.
Ilkeston was probably founded in the 6th century AD, and gets its name from its supposed founder, Elch or Elcha, who was an Anglian chieftan ("Elka's Tun" = Elka's Town). Historically, the town was known as Tilchestune, and appears in the Domesday Book under that name.
Ilkeston's most famous son is arguably the actor Robert Lindsay, star of My Family and Citizen Smith.
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