IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Derbyshire Avenue, ILKESTON, DE7 6HJ

The Bottle Kiln is an art gallery with craft and gift shops, a buttery cafe and a Japanese Garden. It has been transformed from the original kiln on the site and an information board inside includes this: "This site was originally an estate sawmill making pit-props for the Newdigate Estate coal mines. In the mid 19th century additional buildings were erected to house a small brick works using materials from a nearby clay pit. The bricks were fired in beehive kilns. Two bottle-neck kilns were built by the 'West Hallam Art & Earthenware Company' in the early 1920s utilising the earlier buildings and adding further workshops and a boiler house with a square chimney. The pottery failed in 1933. One kiln was demolished in the 1950s causing local concern and the present outer kiln shell was registered as a 'listed' building. The Stone family purchased the derelict site in 1983. Charles Stone designed and built the present complex of which only the kiln shell is an original building, with substantial help from his sons. The business here has been run by the Stone family ever since."

The A609 towards Ilkeston.

Part of West Hallam, looking along High Lane West (the A609) towards Ilkeston. On the left is The Bottle Kiln craft shop and cafe. This site originally housed a sawmill that was used to make pit-props for the Newdigate Estate coal mines. In the mid 19th Century however, some additional buildings were erected including a small brick works using clay from a nearby clay pit. The bricks were fired in beehive kilns. Two bottle-neck kilns were built by the West Hallam Art & Earthenware Company in the 1920s utilising the earlier buildings and several workshops and a boiler house with a square chimney were added. The pottery failed in 1933. One kiln was demolished in the 1950s causing considerable local displeasure. This outer kiln shell however, was registered as a listed building. The Stone family purchased the derelict site in 1983 and Charles Stone designed and built the present retail complex and the business carried out here has been run by the Stone family ever since.

A popular café and gift shop based round a restored bottle-neck kiln built in 1920.

Modern church on the corner of High Lane and Kiln Close. The former, much more basic, church building is now used as a church hall.

A popular café and gift shop based round a restored bottle-neck kiln built in 1920.

Access on to High Lane West (the A609), a road leading to and from Ilkeston, is seen here from the rear car park of The Bottle Kiln craft shop and cafe. This site originally housed a sawmill that was used to make pit-props for the Newdigate Estate coal mines. In the mid 19th century however, some additional buildings were erected including a small brick works using clay from a nearby clay pit. The bricks were fired in beehive kilns. Two bottle-neck kilns were built by the West Hallam Art & Earthenware Company in the 1920s utilising the earlier buildings and several workshops and a boiler house with a square chimney were added. The pottery failed in 1933. One kiln was demolished in the 1950s causing considerable local displeasure. This outer kiln shell however, was registered as a listed building. The Stone family purchased the derelict site in 1983 and Charles Stone designed and built the present retail complex and the business carried out here has been run by the Stone family since then.