Ashby de la Zouch often shortened to Ashby, is a town and civil parish in North West Leicestershire, England, close to the Derbyshire border. It is twinnedwith Pithiviers in north-central France. Its 2001 census population of 11,410 increased to 12,370 in 2011. Ashby de la Zouch Castle had importance in the 15th–17th centuries. In the 19th century the town's main industries were ribbon manufacture, coal mining, and brickmaking, and from 1849 it was served by the Leicester–Burton upon Trent line of the Midland Railway. The civil parish includes the hamlets of Shellbrook to the west and Boundary to the north-west. Nearby villages include Lount, Normanton le Heath, Smisby, Packington, Donisthorpe, Oakthorpe, Moira, Measham and Coleorton. Swadlincote, Burton-upon-Trent, Melbourne and Coalvilleare within 10 miles (16 km), with Derby 11 1⁄2miles (19 km) due north. Ashby lies at the heart of The National Forest, about 24 miles (39 km) south of the Peak District National Park, on the A42 between Tamworth and Nottingham.