The Curious Case of Ilkeston's Premier Tourist Attraction
Nestled on the banks of the River Erewash, positioned between the cities of Derby and Nottingham, the town of Ilkeston boasts a rich industrial heritage. Once a thriving centre for coal mining, with numerous collieries dotting the landscape, the area also had significant iron working and lace making industries. Although these traditional trades have largely faded into history, Ilkeston maintains a profound connection to its past, a sentiment preserved in local institutions like the Erewash Museum.
A Town Reconnected and Its Industrial Echoes
For many years, Ilkeston held the unusual distinction of being the largest town in the United Kingdom without its own railway station, a situation finally remedied in 2017. The region's historical tapestry is woven with railway lines that once serviced its bustling industries. The Erewash Museum carefully curates artefacts from this 'golden age' of rail, including vintage lamps and historical photographs. Another notable landmark is the Grade II-listed Bennerley Viaduct, an impressive wrought-iron railway bridge constructed in 1877, often affectionately dubbed the 'Iron Giant'.
An Unlikely Champion on TripAdvisor
Despite these genuine historical sites, neither the museum nor the viaduct claims the title of Ilkeston's top-rated attraction on the popular review platform TripAdvisor. That honour belongs to a far more peculiar site: the now-famous 'NatWest Hole'. This attraction is, quite literally, a hole in a wall situated near a NatWest bank cashpoint on Bath Street. The hole was originally created during a refurbishment in the mid-1990s as a safety feature, allowing ATM users to check if anyone was lurking on the other side of the wall.
Community Uproar Over a Metal Bar
The hole's quirky fame took a dramatic turn recently when locals were left stunned. Photographs circulated on social media showing that a metal bar had been screwed across the inside of the iconic hole. This act prompted an immediate and passionate outcry from the hole's devoted followers, generating hundreds of shocked comments online. Enthusiasts compared the alteration to the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree, viewing it as a cultural affront.
The controversy escalated quickly, with the local Member of Parliament becoming involved, reportedly sending a letter to NatWest demanding an explanation for the change. The story gained traction far beyond Ilkeston, with a Reddit post detailing the 'drama' receiving over 9,000 upvotes and attracting comments from intrigued observers worldwide, including from the United States.
Swift Resolution and National Bank's Response
However, the saga was short-lived. By the afternoon of the same Monday the photos emerged, the metal bar had been removed. A spokesperson for NatWest confirmed to the BBC that the hole had been restored to its original state, emphasising that 'customer and community feedback is very important to us'. This rapid reversal highlighted the unexpected power of local sentiment surrounding this unusual landmark.
The Hole's Meteoric Rise to Fame
The 'NatWest Hole' ascended to its top spot on TripAdvisor thanks to a flood of humorous and glowing reviews posted since December 2018. One enthusiastic review proclaimed, 'Move over Stonehenge, step aside Eiffel Tower — Ilkeston has its own architectural marvel: The NatWest Hole.' Another pondered, 'This circular wonder may be the town's answer to the mysteries of the universe.' The influx of attention was so significant that TripAdvisor temporarily blocked new reviews about the hole, although this restriction has since been lifted.
This entire episode underscores a fascinating modern phenomenon: how a simple, functional architectural feature can capture the public imagination, become a symbol of local identity, and spark a national conversation about preservation, community value, and the very nature of what constitutes a tourist attraction.
