Wikipedia
Ashby-de-la-Zouch , often shortened to Ashby, is a small market town and civil parish in North West Leicestershire, England, within the National Forest. It is a sister city with Pithiviers in north-central France and lies close to the Derbyshire border. The population of the town according to the 2001 census was 12,758, which increased to 13,759 in the 2011 census.
Ashby-de-la-Zouch Castle was of importance from the 15th to the 17th centuries. In the 19th century the town became a spa town and before the growth of Coalville it was the chief town in northwest Leicestershire.
In the 19th century its main industries were ribbon manufacture, coal mining and brickmaking. The town was served by the Leicester to Burton upon Trent Line of the Midland Railway from 1849.
The civil parish includes the hamlets of Shellbrook west of the town and Boundary to its north-west.
Nearby villages include Lount, Normanton le Heath, Smisby, Packington, Donisthorpe, Oakthorpe, Moira, Measham and Coleorton. The towns of Swadlincote, Burton-upon-Trent, Melbourne and Coalville are all within 10 miles of Ashby, with the city of Derby 11.5 miles due north.
The town is situated at the heart of The National Forest and approximately 24 miles due south of the Peak District National Park. It lies on the A42 national route between Tamworth and Nottingham.