BRAILSFORD is rather a considerable village, in the parish of its name, and hundred of Appletree; situate on the main road between Derby and Ashbourn, equidistant from each place. Coaches to different parts of the kingdom are continually passing through here, and the support of the village is chiefly derived from that circumstance - there being no manufactures, nor any extensive trade existing here. The places of worship are the parish church, and a chapel for Wesleyan methodists; the former, which is situate, about half a mile from the village, is dedicated to All-Saints, and the living is a rectory, in the patronage of Earl Ferrers. The parish (which has no dependent township) contained, in 1821, 724 inhabitants, & in 1831, 780.

LANGLEY, or Kirk-Langley, with MEYNELL LANGLEY form a parish, in the hundred of Morleston and Litchurch, about 2 miles S.E. from Brailsford, on the road to Derby. The little trade it enjoys is maintained, like Brailsford, by the passing through of travellers. The church, which is dedicated to St. Michael, was nearly destroyed by a violent tempest which happened in 1545. The living is a rectory, in the patronage of Godfrey Meynell, Esq. A free-school for twelve children, originally founded in 1750, and a Sunday-school, under the patronage of the rector, are in the parish - which contained, at the last census (1831) 553 persons, being one more inhabitant than was returned for it in 1821.

LONGFORD is a village and township, in the same hundred as Brailsford, four miles S.W. from that village, 6 S. by E. from Ashbourn, and 11 W. from Derby. The country around here presents many agreeable prospects, and the ancient and spacious mansion of 'Longford Hall', with its pleasant grounds, the seat of Edward Cooke, Esq. are ornaments to the scenery. The church, which is dedicated to St. Chad, is of good dimensions, and of considerable antiquity: its architecture exhibits some portion of the Norman style, and in the chancel are three stone stalls. The parish contained, in 1831, 1,233 inhabitants, being less, by 31 persons, than were returned at the preceding census: the township of Longford contained, in 1821, 573, and in 1831, 536 inhabitants.

SHIRLEY, with the townships of STYDD and YEAVELEY, forming a parish, in the same hundred as Brailsford, is about 3 miles W. from that village, 9 N.W. from Derby, and 5 S. by E. from Ashbourn. The habitations are so scattered over the parish, that the features of a village are not to be recognised. The church, dedicated to St. Michael, is a small building, with a tower of wood. Shirley park, in this parish, occupies up wards of two hundred acres, and at one time was a noted cover for foxes. Part of the old manor house of the Shirleys, who settled here in the reign of Henry II, still exists attached to a farm house. The parish contained, at the last census, 602 inhabitants.

POST, BRAILSFORD:- Receiving House, at the White Hart, at which place letters are left and called for by the DERBY and ASHBOURN mails.
POST, LONGFORD:- Letters are forwarded to and arrive from BRAILSFORD by foot post.
POST, SHIRLEY:- Letters arrive from and are forwarded to ASHBOURN.

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