Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Civil parish and market town in Leicestershire, England
This settlement is a market town in Leicestershire in the English East Midlands, roughly 12 miles (19 kilometers) northwest of Leicester. Market Street runs through the center with timber-framed buildings from Elizabethan times, while surrounding streets show a mix of older structures and newer shops.
The Norman conquest brought a French aristocratic family here, who added their surname to the original Anglo-Saxon settlement. The castle became an administrative seat in the 15th century and was later partly destroyed during the English Civil War in the 17th century.
The town name combines an Anglo-Saxon settlement with the French aristocratic family who governed here during medieval times. Many residents still use the traditional market squares and shops in the center, where local life has played out for generations.
The A42 and A511 roads bypass the center and connect the town with Leicester and surrounding communities. Bus services run regularly to neighboring places and to East Midlands Airport, which sits about 8 miles (13 kilometers) away.
An annual funfair called Ashby Statutes takes place every September and continues the tradition of traveling fairs that once drew workers and traders. The event now attracts families from across the region and fills the center with rides and stalls.
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