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 | Ilam lies at the lower end of the River Manifold and is one of the prettiest villages in this area of the Peak, with one of the longest histories. The current village was moved in the 1820s by Jesse Watts-Russell from its position near Ilam Hall and rebuilt in its current location in what Watts-Russell considered to be 'Alpine style'. This explains both the unusual style of the buildings and the surprising distance between them and the village church. The centre of the village is dominated by a memorial cross similar to Charing Cross, erected by Jesse Watts-Russell in 1840 to commemorate his wife, Mary.
The village was inhabited in Saxon times and the church incorporates some Saxon stonework as well as the tomb of the Saxon saint, Bertram, who lived as a hermit in this area. In 1004 the village was given to Burton on Trent Abbey and a small monastic settlement was established here - after the dissolution of the monasteries this was purchased by the Port family who owned the estate for the next 300 years and established the first Ilam Hall, which was torn down and rebuilt in grand style by Jesse Watts-Russell in the 1820s. The main part of his hall was demolished in the 1930s, but the remaining section is a Youth Hostel and the whole estate now belongs to the National Trust.
At the hall there are tea rooms and a National Trust Information centre, plus a very well-appointed National Trust caravan site.
 Throwley Hall
Like Castern on the hillside opposite, Throwley was once a small agricultural village but rural depopulation has left just the hall, which is actually a large farm specialising in raising beef cattle.
Ilam Photo Gallery - click on the images to enlarge- Click Here for a slide show
0 - Manifold Valley - dried up river | 
1 - Ilam - St Bertrand's Bridge | 
2 - Ilam Hall | 
3 - Ilam Church - Tomb of St Bertram | 
4 - Ilam - houses | 
5 - Ilam - the cross | 
6 - Ilam Church | 
7 - Ilam Cross | 
8 - Ilam Church - the Saxon font | 
9 - Ilam Church - Pike Watts tomb |
10 - Ilam Hall - Saxon cross | 
11 - Ilam Hall | 
12 - Dovedale view from Blore Pastures | 
13 - Manifold Valley from Throwley | 
14 - Dovedale - Tissington Spires | 
15 - Blore Church - Bassett tomb | 
16 - Blore Church | 
17 - Dovedale - Ilam Rock | 
18 - Dovedale - Reynards Cave | 
19 - Throwley Old Hall | 
20 - Dovedale from below Thorpe Cloud | 
21 - Dovedale - The Stepping Stones | 
22 - Dovedale - The Stepping Stones on a busy day | 
23 - Thorpe Cloud - Descending towards Lindale | 
24 - Thorpe Cloud - The view up Dovedale | 
25 - Thorpe Cloud from the river Dove | 
26 - Dovedale - The Twelve Apostles | |
Local places of interest | Dovedale and Thorpe Cloud | Dovedale is the name given to the section of the Dove valley between Milldale and Thorpe Cloud on the bounday between Derbyshire and Staffordshire. Famous for its scenery and fishing. | Ilam Church and Hall | Ilam Church, Staffordshire, is the burial place of St Bertram and a place of pilgrimage. A lovely church with some Saxon parts. Close to Ilam Hall, once home of the Watts Russell and Port families. | Ilam Hall and Park | Ilam Hall is the remains of the hall built by the Watts Russell family in the 1820s, close to Ashbourne. The Hall and Park now belong to the National Trust | Manifold and Hamps Trail | The Manifold and Hamps Trail is a Staffordshire Peak District cycle track which follows the old light railway which once ran along the valley. | Thor's Cave | Thor's Cave is the most spectacular sight of the Manifold valley, Staffordshire, a large cave with a fine view, which was inhabited in the Stone Age. | Tissington Hall | Tissington Hall is the 17th century home of the FitzHerbert family in Tissington Village near Ashbourne, Derbyshire. Wonderful furniture, paintings and porcelain collection. | Tissington Trail | The Tissington Trail, a Derbyshire Peak District cycling trail follows the former railway line between Buxton and Ashbourne. |
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