History Uncovered

People of the older generation may remember Bestwick's shop operating from these premises on the Lower Market Place but more recently it has traded as The Sunflower Health Store. The shop closed recently with the intention of continuing business from a market stall. Whether this has come to fruition or not, I'm not sure as I don't recollect seeing them on the market but that's not to say they aren't there. Even more recently the shop has been boarded up and the external cladding removed together with the shop name. This has revealed an old doorway and arch at the left of the building that had long since been forgotten. A little bit of Ilkeston's history revealed.


I took this second picture from a similar position nearly five years ago in June 2005 and it is interesting to compare the two as it not only shows the Health Store in its former glory but also shows that Vic Graves next door has been replaced by the Arena Hope shop.


Life goes on - despite the changes. In a progressive country change is constant; ...change... is inevitable. - Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)