ALFRETON is a market town, and with Alfreton-outseats forms a parish in the hundred of Scarsdale; 141 miles from London, 51 S.E. from Manchester, 14 N. from Derby, 10 S. from Chesterfield, and 7 N. by E. from Belper. The town, which possesses no pretensions to uniformity in its arrangement, or beauty in its buildings, is seated upon a small eminence.

The manufacture of stockings is a branch of trade here of some importance, and in the immediate neighbourhood are iron foundries. At Pye Bridge, three miles east of Alfreton, are the Alfreton iron works, belonging to Messrs. James Oakes and Co., where have been constructed some of the largest iron bridges, and almost every other sort of castings of smaller dimensions; a considerable number of cannon and a large quantity of shot have also been produced here - these works are at the present time in full employment: there are also several productive coal mines in the neighbourhood; and the Erewash canal passes through the parish. Alfreton is one of the stations, appointed under the new Boundary Act, for receiving votes at the election of knights of the shire, to represent the northern division of the county.

The places of worship are the parish church, and a chapel for the Wesleyan methodists; the former, which is dedicated to St. Martin, is a rude structure, having an embattled tower with pinnacles, and appears to have been erected at different periods, probably some portion of it prior to the reign of Henry II. The living is a discharged rectory, in the patronage of the family of Morewood.

At SOUTH WINGFIELD, about two miles hence are the remains of an ancient manor house, once one of the most stately residences in Derbyshire; and even in its present ruinous state conveys some idea of its original magnificence. It was erected by Lord Treasurer Cromwell, in the reign of Henry VI., and in 1569 was the place of confinement of the unfortunate Mary Queen of Scots, under the Earl of Shrewsbury. There are three fairs held in the year at Alfreton, viz. on the 30th of July and 8th of October, for horses and cattle, and a statute fair on the 22nd of November. The market day, which is on Friday. is a considerable one for grain. The parish contained, in 1821, 4,689 inhabitants, and, in 1831 the number had increased to 5,691.

SWANWICK is a hamlet, in the parish of Alfreton, about a mile and a half S.W. from that town. There are places of worship for baptists and Wesleyan methodists, and a free-school, erected and endowed in 1740 by Mrs. Elizabeth Turner. Population returned with the parish.

RIDDINGS is a chapelry, in the parish of Alfreton, about 3 miles S. from that town. The new line of road from Manchester to Nottingham, and a branch of the Cromford canal, connected with Mansfield by a rail-road passes through this place. In the immediate neighbourhood are extensive iron-works, employing many of the inhabitants, of whom some are also employed in the adjacent mines, forges &c. at Codnor Park. These several establishments have been the means of greatly increasing the number of residents around here, for whose accommodation a new chapel under the establishment has been erected; the expense of which was defrayed partly by the church commissioners, and partly by subscriptions; the living is a perpetual curacy, in the patronage of W.P. Morewood, Esq. There are besides, places of worship for baptists, independents and Wesleyan methodists. The right to hold a market, has been granted to this chapelry within these few years. The population returns are made up with Alfreton parish.

SHIRLAND is a parish, in the hundred of Scarsdale, two miles S.W. from Alfreton, containing the hamlet of HIGHAM, which was formerly a market town, but discontinued as such about 1785. Higham is a place of considerable antiquity situate on the Iknield-street of the Romans. The parish church, dedicated to St. Leonard contains several ancient monuments of the De Greys. The parish contained, in 1831, 1,212 inhabitants, and Higham 595 of that number.

POST OFFICE:- ALFRETON, John Smedley, Postmaster:- Letters from LONDON and BIRMINGHAM arrive every forenoon at eleven, and are despatched every morning at half past ten:- Letters from SHEFFIELD arrive every morning at half past ten, and are despatched at eleven.

Description(s) from Pigot and Co's Commercial Directory for Derbyshire, 1835.
Transcribed by Rosemary Lockie in May 1996.