Town Walk 2026 - Part 13 - The URC to The Rec.
w/e 29 March 2026
All of this week's pictures were
taken with a Nikon D3300 camera or a low specification Kodak Camera.
This part equates to part of Stage 22 and part
of 23 of the original Town Walk from 2004.
Our walk now continues from the URC along Wharncliffe Road where
we can see some excellent examples of the work of local architect
Harry Tatham-Sudbury. Harry (1877-1959) was "a
prominent architect and designer in the early part of the twentieth
century" and Dave Johnson's
Old Ilkeston website includes an excellent article about the
man and his work (link). Included
in his portfolio of work that we have already seen in the Town
Walk are Toll Bar House, the Cenotaph and indeed, the United
Reformed Church which dates from 1905.
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Next to the URC is The Manse another building designed
by the talented architect and built in 1927.
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And examples of his work continue with the "next
property down on Wharncliffe Road." This
building "pre-dates the church by some five or six years
being built in 1899". This was 'The Red House"
which was "later used as a hotel" but is now
'Vitality Care: Red House' part of an organisation providing
specialist care and support to over 3,500 people people with
a range of needs at various locations throughout the country.
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Mr Tatham-Sudbury's work can also be seen in the next property
too. This one is "Croft House, .... dating from 1926."
In May 2004 on the original Town Walk, trees and shrubs were
obscuring much of the building but now, a couple of months earlier
in the year, the blossom only adds to its attractiveness.
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Harry's work continues and I'm sure there are many more examples
that can be found throughout the town, as well as in Wharncliffe
Road, but as I wrote in 2004 with a link to a Picture The Past photo
(search for DCER000144) "the view has changed little
for many years" and "Harry Tatham- Sudbury certainly
left the town a legacy which I, for one, am thankful."
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It was also in 2004 at this point that I included a panoramic
view at the junction with West End Drive with a link to a larger
version. I've repeated the exercise here with another link which
again shows Wharncliffe Road running "across from left
to right with Pimlico, leading back to the Market Place, straight
ahead. The tower of St Mary's Church can just (2026 - only
just!) be seen at the top of Pimlico. Click here to view enlargement. "Our
route from here is down West End Drive (extreme right) but first
a look at the building opposite on the left" which in
2004 was the "East Derbyshire Magistrates' Court. My
understanding is that the court is scheduled for closure."
The Court did indeed close and the building was demolished.
My question posed at the time "Will it stand the test
of time like Harry's designs?" was a definite "No!"
From its ashes however rose the Ilkeston Campus of the Derby
College in 2013/14. The view from here in 2004 showed the entrance
to the Court.
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The entrance to the new college is now a little further up
the road towards the Market Place. Although sleek and modern
looking I wonder once again "Will it stand the test of
time like Harry's designs?"
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Returning now down Pimlico to its junction with Wharncliffe Road
"we can now look down West End Drive towards the
Rutland Recreation Ground which will be the next port of call
on our walk around the town."
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"Our walk through the streets of Ilkeston has brought
us to this road junction where West End Drive meets Oakwell Drive
(left) and King George Avenue (right)" and our next
port of call is the Rutland Sports Park. West End Drive, a continuation
of Pimlico and once known as Pimlico Lane, runs alongside the
Sports Park which "was known as Pimlico Recreation Ground".
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Before we "take a look
at the recreation ground which was improved, renamed "Rutland"
and officially opened as such in 1926" it's worth a
glance at the small building on the corner. I have a distant
memory of queuing here to gain access to the ground when County
Cricket matches were regularly held here. The ticket office still
bears the name Rutland Recreation Ground and despite the change
to Sports Park, to my generation it will always be 'The Rec."
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