First Impressions
No. 09 - Part 01 - Awsworth Road
w/e 02 February 2025
All of this week's pictures were taken with a Nikon D3300
It's been a while as the first
part in this series following the nine main roads into Ilkeston
began in January 2009 but we've now reached the 9th and final
road leading to the town. The first part of the series began
at the end of Shilo Way where it met Millership Way and having
circled the town from there in a clockwise direction we again
begin this final section near Shilo Way.
At one time of day Newton's Lane led from Awsworth Village to
Ilkeston but when Shilo Way was built to by pass the village
it bisected the lane and cut off the direct access. We begin
this part then at the road junction and follow Newton's Lane
from there towards Ilkeston.
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Newton's Lane drops down from the Shilo Way junction into the
valley where it crosses the River Erewash, the county boundary
between Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, to rise up over the railway
bridge as Awsworth Road.
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With a foot in each county, this is the view to the north along
the valley across the river's flood plain to the Iron Giant,
the Bennerley Viaduct. Once busy carrying steam trains across
the valley, the viaduct is now accessible to walkers and cyclists
with work in progress on the Nottinghamshire side to create a
visitor centre and better access to the viaduct.
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In the section where the road crosses the river, a footpath for
pedestrians runs behind a hedgerow but when the path emerges
to cross the railway bridge, care must be taken as there is no
footpath until the bridge is reached.
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The bridge crosses the main line between Nottingham and Sheffield.
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On the other side of the bridge and alongside the railway line
is Booths Field, home of Ilkeston Town Juniors Football Club.
At the far end the recently made ramp up to the viaduct can be
seen whilst to the left of the trees is the Erewash Canal. I
remember having games lessons here in the middle of the last
century when we had to get changed in a disused railway carriage
before commencing our game of football. After trooping down from
school in the centre of the town and along the canal towpath
to reach the field, there was not a lot of time left for the
game and then at the end of the school day, it was the long walk
home.
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We would access Booths Field in my school days from the canal
towpath but there is also another access along a track from Awsworth
Road between the approach to the railway bridge and the premises
of Cpl Distribution, a coal and smokeless fuel supplier.
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A sign now proudly displays the access to the track whilst on
the other side of the road is the main stand on the ground of
Ilkeston Town F.C.'s senior team.
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The entrance to the club's ground is a little further on. It
is called the New Manor Ground to distinguish it from the original
Manor Ground which was located between Manor Road and Manners
Road in the town and is now the site of Dunelm store, having
previously been occupied by William Lowe and Tesco supermarkets.
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As first impressions go, the first part of Awsworth Road, apart
from the football club, is one of an industrial or commercial
nature - this is the opposite side of the road looking back towards
he railway bridge - but from here on, the appearance changes
as we shall see in the next part.
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