Geograph - photograph every grid square

Ilam is an interesting 'estate' village that was moved in the 1820s by the new owners of Ilam Hall, the Watts Russell family.

They felt that the tenants' cottages spoilt the view and so, when they rebuilt the Hall, they built the 'new' model village of Ilam in Alpine style just out of sight but left the church where it still sits today midway between the Hall and village.

The Hall was saved part way through its demolition and donated to the National Trust and the YHA in the 1930s.

The Memorial Cross was erected, in the style of an Eleanor Cross, by Jesse Watts Russell in memory of his wife.

Follow the link below for more on the cross.

http://www.the-ilam-cross-trust.org.uk/

The school was built, in the same style as the rest of the village in 1857.