Ilam, Staffordshire, DE6 2AZ

Date of visit: 1st July 2020

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ilam is best known as the location of the neo-Gothic Ilam Hall, a stately home built in the 1820s, and now a youth hostel owned by the National Trust. It is set in large parklands that are open to visitors.

Ilam is about 4 miles from Ashbourne at the entrance to the scenic Manifold Valley. Ilam is very picturesque, with its “Swiss chalet” style houses and matching school house. It also lies close to the popular Dovedale valley.

While most of the buildings in the village are from the past two centuries, Ilam dates from Saxon times or earlier.

Recently the village has attracted praise for its commitment to eco- friendly policies. Ilam became the first community in the United Kingdom to phase out incandescent light bulbs, cutting annual carbon emissions by 4 tonnes. The initiative was part of the Ilam Climate Change Project, supported by the Marches Energy Agency.

A conspicuous landmark is the Grade II* listed Mary Watts-Russell Memorial Cross; Mary was the wife of Jesse Watts-Russell. Standing as a roundabout at the road junction where a lane branches off towards Blore, this is an ornate gothic-style obelisk of local limestone in the style of an Eleanor Cross. Standing on a three-step plinth, it has two tiers of statues surmounted by a spire with a cross at the top. In style, it bears some resemblance to the decorated facade of Lichfield Cathedral.

Internal ref number: SF/119/079

Date of Visit: 1st Jul 2020

Kiosk Type: K6
Door Type: D
Crown: Tudor
Kiosk Colour: Red
Usage: Phone
Phone Number (if known): 01335 350346

Northing & Westing: 53°03’16.4″N, 1°47’58.7″W
what3words: tasters.huts.funded
Grid Reference: SK 13528 50831
OS X & Y: 350831, 413528
Latitude & Longitude: 53.054563, -1.799628
UK Postcode: DE6 2AZ
County: Staffordshire


Listed Status: