‘An adventure not to be missed’: Hole in wall among top ranked attractions in Derbyshire town

'Paris has the Eiffel Tower and Sydney has its Opera House. But they all pale in comparison to the impact on the soul of first laying eyes on Ilkeston’s Hole in the Wall'

The Natwest hole on Bath Street in Ilkeston, Derbyshire (Tripadvisor)

A seemingly mundane architectural feature has become one of the top-rated attractions in the town of Ilkeston in Derbyshire.

A literal hole in a wall next to a Natwest ATM – appropriately named “Natwest hole” – is the fourth most popular attraction for the town on TripAdvisor.

User reviews on the travel site heaped satirical praise on the feature, which is located on Bath Street.

“It’s an adventure not to be missed!” said one reviewer, adding a thumbs-up emoji. “Architectural brickwork masterpiece! A must for anyone’s bucket list!”

Another, with the rather cheeky title “Glory(ious) hole”, said: “I have seen some holes in my time but this one is beyond compare. The ornate brickwork, the local facilities and the overpowering stench all enhance the senses to create a euphoric experience. After so many visits it’s surprisingly tight.”

One particular review was almost poetic: “The city of Agra has the Taj Mahal; Paris has the Eiffel Tower and Sydney has its Opera House. But they all pale in comparison to the impact on the soul of first laying eyes on Ilkeston’s Hole in the Wall.

“Pilgrims flock from afar, Kodak disposable cameras gripped in their sweaty excited palms, to witness one of Britain’s true wonders.

“It is said that people often faint upon first sight of this magnificent structure, unable to deal with the unrivalled attack on the senses that the Hole in the Wall delivers.

“In the neighbouring towns of Heanor and Eastwood, you can regularly hear the cries of delight as people experience the hole for the first time.

“Smiling children can frolic and play, climbing in and out of the glorious brickwork, an experience which undoubtedly makes everyone feel one step closer to God.”

However, not everyone is as impressed, as two Tripadvisor reviewers ranked the hole less than ‘Excellent’.

One person who ranked the Natwest hole as ‘Very Good’ said: “Only 1 hole otherwise I’d give a 5* rating. Natwest take note, more holes please! In fact holes everywhere!”

Another, who ranked the attraction as ‘Terrible’, simply did not understand: “What is going on here, a round hole in a wall which is part of the Natwest branch next to a cash machine, whatever next.”

The Bennerley Viaduct, a wrought iron viaduct built in 1877 over the Erewash Valley, was ranked two places bewlow the hole in the wall (WMF)

Paul Miller, chairman of the Ilkeston and District History Society, told the BBC he was “gobsmacked” at the Natwest hole’s ranking.

He said: “It doesn’t really say a lot about the area if it’s number four. It’s beat the Bennerley Viaduct.”

According to a Natwest spokeswoman, the hole was built into the wall in the mid-1990s as a safety feature so cash machine users could see if there was someone hiding behind the wall.