Click on above to access all UK censuses, BDM indexes, etc.

ALFRETON, a parish and market town, in the hundred of Scarsdale, is 141 miles from London, 51 from Manchester, 15 from Derby, 9 from Wirksworth and Chesterfield, and 7 from Belper.  The town, which is long and straggling, without any pretensions to uniformity in its arrangement, or beauty in its buildings, is seated upon a small hill.  The church is an ancient rude structure, having embattled towers with pinnacles.  Here is a dissenting meeting house, and at SWANWICH is a free school, and another at HALFIELDGATE.  A considerable manufactory for stockings is here, & in the immediate neighbourhood are iron foundries, and some productive coal mines.  At SOUTH WINGFIELD village, about half a mile 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 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 two fairs held in the year at Alfreton, on the 30th of July 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.  In 1821 the number of inhabitants in Alfreton, with Alfreton-outseats parish, was 4,689.

POST OFFICE, near the Market-place, ALFRETON, John Smedley, Post Master.  The London mail arrives at half-past twelve at noon, and is despatched at a quarter past nine in the morning.