Historical Centre & Local Information Point

Ashbourne is a Georgian Market Town, first mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086. Nestled in the foothills of the Peak District famed for ROYAL SHROVETIDE FOOTBALL, it is truly 'The Gateway to Dovedale'.

Let us make your visit to the town and the surrounding area a memorable one by popping into the ASHBOURNE HISTORICAL CENTRE & INFORMATION POINT formed by Ashbourne Town Council in January 2022 located in the Town Hall, formerly the Talbot Inn, which was visited by Izaak Walton and Charles Cotton when writing 'The Compleat Angler' in 1653. Here take a walk through the town's nostalgic past, firstly, its main historical event: Royal Shrovetide Football and then the town in general. We have changing exhibits showcasing our illustrious history, as well as old films and large scale photographs. Most of all it is FREE ENTRY!.

We stock a selection of leaflets on Ashbourne and the surrounding area. Friendly local knowledge is always on tap by our trained staff.

We also have an ASHBOURNE & DISTRICT REFERENCE LIBRARY, where long out of print publications can be viewed by the public, a quiet reading area can be arranged upon request for research.

Another interesting exclusive is a selection of artefacts excavated from the river bed of the Henmore Brook by The Trent Rivers Trust. These include Roman tessellation, medieval black pottery, Georgian fragments, and Victorian glass & clay pipe fragments.

Please see our current & forthcoming exhibits below.

We are always keen to receive new artefacts for display which will be cared for and placed in lockable cabinets. Please contact the Curator on our contacts page and arrange a friendly meeting.

THE HISTORICAL CENTRE OPENING HOURS:

MONDAY TO SATURDAY

10:00am till 3:00pm (last entry 2.45pm)

SUNDAY: CLOSED

Or contact us as the details below:

Town Hall, Market Place, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 1ES

Tel: 01335 343666

Email: museum@ashbournetowncouncil.gov.uk

Find us also on Facebook.

Here are the current exhibits we are showcasing:

The Meynell & South Staffs Hunt.

Ashbourne Town Band: A Retrospective.

Ashbourne Carnival 1950/1956

The 'Beautiful Beresford' Sisters of Ashbourne.

The 'Our Town' art installation 2022, in conjunction with Ashbourne Festival & The Clayrooms.

Bayliss Precision Components Ltd, a look at an old Ashbourne institution.

Queen Elizabeth's Grammar & Ashbourne County Secondary uniforms & artefacts

Ironmongery items from W. Barnes Ltd formerly of the Market Place.

Vintage Ashbourne Shopping Bags from the 50s onwards.

Selection of Ashbourne related stone ale jars

Ashbourne pharmacy bottles

Ashbourne Railway Station: the original ticket office, platform post box & photographs of the railway taken by Mr. Laurie Avery in the late 1950s.

Collection of various pieces of Ashbourne related porcelain.

Various Ashbourne related artefacts from times past.

A selection of rare images of Ashbourne past

The Ashbourne Town Crier Uniform

Aretefacts about Ashbourne Royal Shrovetide Football

D Day remembered: Medals and the actual uniform worn on the June 6th landings by Ashburnian Ernest Hill RN.

The former Edlaston Primary School nr Ashbourne, closed in 1967.

Spring 2025:

Ashbourne Royal Shrovetide Football: The Tradition including the ball turned up in 1962 by TV personality Ted Moult. Not seen in Ashbourne for 62 years.

March 2025: 40th Anniversary of HM The Queen's Visit to Ashbourne on 15th March 1985

Forthcoming Exhibitions:

Summer 2025: 'Ashbourne Re-Born' The changing face of the town over the centuries in celebration of the 'Ashbourne Reborn' 2025 project