Erewash Museum

Erewash Museum Erewash Museum is a free museum located on the High Street, Ilkeston, run by Erewash Borough Council

Erewash Museum is a community family friendly local history museum in Ilkeston, Derbyshire. Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: Open in School Holidays
Thursday: 11.00-16.00
Friday: 11.00-16.00
Saturday: 11.00-16.00
Sunday: Closed

Admission to the museum is free.

This weeks Museum Monday is a shopping bag from Supermarket chain Presto. Does anyone remember the shop they had in Ilke...
28/04/2025

This weeks Museum Monday is a shopping bag from Supermarket chain Presto. Does anyone remember the shop they had in Ilkeston?

We are open 11am – 4pm, Thursday – Saturday (including Wednesdays during school holidays).

Time-Travelling Exploration – Just 2 Weeks to Go!🚀 Meet characters, explore the TARDIS, and browse some merch!🎤 Don’t mi...
26/04/2025

Time-Travelling Exploration – Just 2 Weeks to Go!

🚀 Meet characters, explore the TARDIS, and browse some merch!
🎤 Don’t miss our special panel talk with Sophie Aldred, best known as Ace in Doctor Who!

Did you know her grandmother was Hope Robinson? There’s a dedicated exhibition about Hope at Erewash Museum – definitely worth a visit.
Sophie will be joined by Robert Shearman, writer for Doctor Who and author of the iconic episode “Dalek”.

🎟️ General Entry: £5 per person (ages 12 and up) – pay on the day
🎫 Panel Talk: Additional £10 – pre-booking essential 12pm and 2pm
Cash Only.

To book please call 0115 907 1141 or email [email protected]

Museum Monday: Ilkeston Swimming PoolsA familiar sight to many but does anyone remember the grand opening which took pla...
21/04/2025

Museum Monday: Ilkeston Swimming Pools

A familiar sight to many but does anyone remember the grand opening which took place 53 years ago tomorrow on 22nd April 1972?

This week we are open Thursday, Friday and Saturday 11am to 4pm. The Dalby House Café is open during these times serving lite bites and refreshments. Entry is free.

This Week at Erewash Museum…Pages, Poems, and Pictures! And so much more!Join us for a week of creativity at Erewash Mus...
15/04/2025

This Week at Erewash Museum…
Pages, Poems, and Pictures! And so much more!

Join us for a week of creativity at Erewash Museum!

🎨 Get crafty with in a hands-on workshop where you’ll create your very own book.
🎤 Meet Mr Rhyme as he roams the museum, helping you whip up fun and imaginative poetry.
📚 Browse our book stall to discover your next great read!

Bookable Workshops:
📅 Wednesday 16th
✂️ Create Your Own Book Workshop - £4.50 per person

📅 Friday 18th
🖌 Paint a Pot with Slightly Potty - Prices range from £5-£10

📅 Saturday 19th
🐣 Chick Handling - £4.50 per person

👉 To book, email [email protected] or call 0115 907 1141.

Free Activities:
📅 Wednesday 16th & Thursday 17th
• Create your own poem with Mr Rhyme

📅 Wednesday 16th - Saturday 19th
• Easter Egg Hunt
• Colouring and Crafts

Museum MondayThis photo shows a group of Pit Ponies on strike in Mapperley, dated to April 1921. Faced with the prospect...
14/04/2025

Museum Monday

This photo shows a group of Pit Ponies on strike in Mapperley, dated to April 1921. Faced with the prospect of mines going back into private hands and their wages slashed, the Miner’s Federation of Great Britain called a strike, starting on April 1st.

The federation called on the Triple Alliance to join them on strike. In 1914, it was agreed between the Miners, Railway and Transportation workers that they would form an alliance to strengthen their cause. Despite a strike called for the alliance to start April 15th, which would bring the country to a standstill, 104 years ago tomorrow on April 15th it was announced that the alliance would not support the miners. This day is now known amongst many as Black Friday.

The strike continued until early July, but without the help of other unions, the miners returned to private collieries with wages falling to 20% lower than they had in 1914 before the outbreak of the First World War.

To see more items relating to the importance of our industries in the borough, visit Erewash Museum in The Danny Corns Industrial Gallery room on the first floor of our museum.
This week we are open 11am – 4pm, Wednesday – Saturday with a packed week of activities for the Easter holidays.

We have a fun packed week of Easter treats to keep the kids busy this half term!This weeks theme is 'make do and mend', ...
08/04/2025

We have a fun packed week of Easter treats to keep the kids busy this half term!

This weeks theme is 'make do and mend', there are lots of free activities including a trail, an imaginative play area and the chance for some hands on discovery with our Second World War handling box.

This weeks bookable activities are: a craft workshop on Wednesday and chick handling on Saturday, sessions are available throughout the day and the cost is £4.50 per child per session. To book please call 0115 907 1141 or email [email protected]

The museum is open Wednesday to Saturday 11am to 4pm - we hope to see you soon!

Museum Monday: Handyside UrnWe thought we would tell you a little bit about our wonderful urn that is currently offsite ...
07/04/2025

Museum Monday: Handyside Urn

We thought we would tell you a little bit about our wonderful urn that is currently offsite for restoration.

The urn was made by Andrew Handyside & Company, Derby, 1879. This design was on display in the Great Exhibition of 1851. Just below the large bowl, there are eight heads of famous people: Nelson, Peel, Watt, Wellington, Stephenson, Scott, Milton and Shakespeare. When the urn was originally restored, some of the original panels were replaced. The former drinking fountain in the marketplace in Ilkeston is also made by Handyside, in 1889.

The urn will be restored and returned over the coming weeks, we will keep you updated. The museum is open over the next two weeks of Easter Wednesdays to Saturdays 11am to 4pm, the Dalby House Café is opening during these times too and entry is free.

As part of our Pages, Poems and Pictures week this Easter we will be having a huge second-hand book sale. Lots of books ...
02/04/2025

As part of our Pages, Poems and Pictures week this Easter we will be having a huge second-hand book sale. Lots of books for all ages will be on sale from just £1, there are also some very special limited edition and rare books available - come and see what you can find! Payment can be made by cash or card and all money raised will benefit the Friends of Erewash Museum. The sale is taking place Wednesday 16th and Thursday 17th April.

Erewash Museum and the Dalby House Café will be open Wednesday to Saturday 11am to 4pm over the Easter holidays, entry is free.

Guess what is landing at Erewash Museum on Saturday 10th May... 🌟Panel talksDaleksA TardisImmerse yourself in an extorti...
01/04/2025

Guess what is landing at Erewash Museum on Saturday 10th May... 🌟
Panel talks
Daleks
A Tardis
Immerse yourself in an extortionary day!
Entry is £5 and an additional £10 to attend one of the talks.
Please call 0115 907 1141 or email [email protected] to book into the talk.

This is a lace pattern book, used by workers to set up lace machines at one of the Beardsley lace factories in Cotmanhay...
31/03/2025

This is a lace pattern book, used by workers to set up lace machines at one of the Beardsley lace factories in Cotmanhay.

There is a rich history of lace in Nottingham and the surrounding areas, like Ilkeston. Nottingham is well known for the lace and hosiery manufacturing that was pioneered in the early 19th century.

At its height, in the 1890s, the lace industry in Nottingham employed 25,000 mostly female workers which slowly fell to just 5,000 by the 1970s as manufacturing steadily declined amid growing foreign competition.

To learn about more about our local history and to see an examples of local lace, you can visit The Danny Corns Industrial Gallery in on the first floor of our museum. We are open 11am – 4pm, Thursday – Saturday (including Wednesdays during school holidays).

A huge thank you to all the volunteers that came from Trent this week! The worked so hard on our Path to the Past pro...
28/03/2025

A huge thank you to all the volunteers that came from Trent this week! The worked so hard on our Path to the Past project in the museum garden. We can't wait to show you the result!

If you come to Erewash Museum in the next few weeks you may notice one of our beloved items in the collections is missin...
27/03/2025

If you come to Erewash Museum in the next few weeks you may notice one of our beloved items in the collections is missing… it's having a glow up!

The Handyside Urn, which lives in the garden, has been dated to the 1850s and was made by Derby-based Manufacturer Andrew Handyside and Company. Most popularly producing utilitarian pieces of iron, such as gates or bridges, this urn is a rare example of decorative work by the company. Some of the only other examples in the country are the two drinking fountains, one in Ilkeston Market Place and the other on Pancras Road, Camden in London.

Our urn has temporarily left us as it undergoes much needed conservation work, these images show the process of taking apart the urn for transport. So do not be alarmed if you notice our missing object, it will be back and looking better than ever soon!

24/03/2025

Erewash Museum Garden

This was a lovely delivery for us this morning! Lots of beautiful plants for the Erewash Museum garden . Good luck to all the volunteers helping out with the planting, I hope the weather stays beautiful for you!

Museum Mondays: Kodak Brownie 127This is a Kodak Brownie 127, made between 1952 – 1955. The Brownie was a series of came...
24/03/2025

Museum Mondays: Kodak Brownie 127

This is a Kodak Brownie 127, made between 1952 – 1955. The Brownie was a series of camera models made by Kodak, first released in 1900 and made using a carboard box and a lens, costing only $1! The Brownie 127 was manufactured in England, made from Bakelite with a meniscus lens and sold 1 million units by August 1954.
“You press the button, we do the rest.” This advertising slogan was coined by George Eastman, the founder of Kodak in 1888.

Why Brownie? The name ‘Brownie’ was derived from a popular series of publications about fictional, pixie-like characters, created by Palmer Cox, and partly because the camera was initially manufactured by Frank Brownell of Rochester, New York.

Erewash Museum and the Dalby House Café are open 11am – 4pm, Thursday – Saturday (including Wednesdays during school holidays).

Sources:
https://www.kodak.com/en/company/page/george-eastman-history/
https://www.kodak.com/en/company/page/history/
Lothrop, Eaton S. (January 1978). "The Brownie camera". History of Photography.
https://www.brownie-camera.com/6.shtml
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1351584/brownie-127-camera-kodak/
https://fi.edu/en/science-and-education/collection/kodak-brownie-camera

Easter holidays are sorted!Make do and Mend 9th, 10th and 11th AprilThere are upcycling workshops, free play and Second ...
21/03/2025

Easter holidays are sorted!
Make do and Mend
9th, 10th and 11th April
There are upcycling workshops, free play and Second World War handling sessions.

Pages, Poems and Pictures
16th and 17th April
Make your own book workshop, create a community poem and meet Mr Rhyme who with be roaming the museum. There will be a book stall to browse!

Each week there will be a trail, crafts and Egg hunt with prizes!

To book please call 0115 907 1141 or email [email protected]

Paint a pot with Slightly Potty on Good Friday 🎨🖌With a great choice of pots ranging from £5 to £10, it's the perfect ac...
20/03/2025

Paint a pot with Slightly Potty on Good Friday 🎨🖌

With a great choice of pots ranging from £5 to £10, it's the perfect activity to do on a Bank Holiday

To book please call 0115 907 1141 or email [email protected]

We are delighted to announce that our current exhibition ‘Artist and Teacher: An exhibition of John Lally’s work’ is bei...
18/03/2025

We are delighted to announce that our current exhibition ‘Artist and Teacher: An exhibition of John Lally’s work’ is being extended until April 26th.

Featuring numerous original paintings, as well as objects relating to his time at Gladstone Boys School, Artist and Teacher is perfect for both art and history lovers. This painting is an oil on canvas, painted by Lally in 1960, and titled: Ironworks and Cow Parsley. Presumably Stanton’s! We also have postcards of 4 of the artworks available to purchase in the museum giftshop.

So if you have not already, come down to Erewash Museum to see this celebration of beloved teacher John Lally. We are open 11am – 4pm, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturday (including Wednesdays during school holidays). The Dalby House Café is open during these times for refreshments and lite bites. We hope to see you soon.

Address

High Street
Ilkeston
DE75JA

Opening Hours

Thursday 11am - 4pm
Friday 11am - 4pm
Saturday 11am - 4pm

Telephone

0115 9071141

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Erewash Museum, owned by Erewash Borough Council, is a local and social history museum located in Ilkeston, Derbyshire. Home for the Museum is a late Georgian house with Victorian extensions. It was both a family home and school accommodation before becoming a museum in the 1980's. Many original features survive and visitors can enjoy the garden with unrivalled views across the Erewash Valley. Admission to the museum is always free.

This page is run by Erewash Borough Council.