Alfreton, a market-town, a parish, and head of a petty sessional division and county court district in Derbyshire. The town stands on the brow of a hill, about a mile from the branch railway connecting the Erewash line with the main Midland, and 14 miles NNE of Derby. It is said, but without good reason, to have got its name and origin from a residence of King Alfred. The town is governed by a local board, and is well paved. The parish church is variously Early English, Decorated, and Early Perpendicular, was restored and enlarged in 1869, and contains a handsome reredos of Derbyshire alabaster. The town has a railway station, a head post office, two banks, a market-hall, and two weekly newspapers. The inhabitants are chiefly employed in the collieries and ironworks in the neighbourhood. A weekly market is held on Friday, and a horse and cattle fair on 31 July, a cheese fair on 7 Oct., and statutes for hiring servants on 24 Nov. The parish contains also the townships of Somercotes, Swanwick, Biddings, and Ironville. Area of the parish, 4626 acres; population of the civil parish, 15,355; of the ecclesiastical, 6091. The manor of Alfreton belonged successively to the De Alfretons, the Ghaworths, the Babingtons, and the Zouches, and now belongs to the Palmer-Morewood family. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Southwell; net value, £314 with residence. The ancient parish church belonged to Beauchief Abbey. There are chapels for Congregationalists, Wesleyans, Roman Catholics, Primitive and United Free Methodists. Alfreton Park is a handsome residence, beautifully situated near the town. The parish is represented on the Derbyshire County Council by an alderman and 2 councillors.
