Ashbourne
Ashbourne is a market town in the Derbyshire Dales in England. Because of its proximity to the southern edge of the Peak District and being the closest town to the popular area of Dovedale, the town is known as both the 'Gateway to Dovedale' and the 'Gateway to the Peak District'. Due to this tourism has constantly been critical for the town's economy. Based on the 2011 Census, the town has a permanent population of around 8377 people. It contains a lot of historical buildings and lots of independent shops and is famous for its historic annual Shrovetide football match. The cobbled marketplace hosts a traditional outdoor market every Thursday and Saturday all through the year, complementing the wide array of individual shops within the town. Although its market heritage is important, Ashbourne's market was under threat of closure from Derbyshire County Council in November 2012. Residents of Ashbourne have opposed any such moves by the council and created an online petition. Ashbourne became the 97th Fairtrade Town in March 2005 after lots of local companies, cafes, shops and community organisations started supporting Fairtrade. Ashbourne features a substantial variety of public houses for such a little town centre. At present, there are ten pubs trading, along with 2 social clubs. The famous and rare 'gallows' sign across St John's Street remains a focal meeting point within the town. Local historians have noted that nearly 1 in 4 buildings within the town have at one time or another been an alehouse, pub or inn or underwent renovations on the site of such an establishment. For all your home upgrades, be certain that you utilise reliable experts in Ashbourne to make sure you get the top quality service.