in Domestic services in which six females worked. The key reason for the majority of people working in an agricultural occupation is Ashleyhay's location. It is a very rural parish where the main resource is the land that can be used for farming . Land In 1829, The History, Gazetteer and Directory of the County of Derby stated that the village consists of 1400 acres (566 Hectares). However, in 1886 this area was reduced, enlarging the Civil Parish of Alderwasley as the area under ownership of Sandyford Farm was transferred. Points of Interest Alport Height On the Southern edge of Ashleyhay's border is a hill called the Alport Height, at its summit this area of high ground is over 300meters above sea level. In 1930 nine acres of land was acquired on the hill by the National Trust, it was the first piece of land they acquired in Derbyshire of scenic nature, it has remained free admission to the site since they acquired it. Visible on the side of the Alport Height hill is an old quarry, explaining the existence of Alport Stone standing at 6meters tall. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway runs through the west side of Ashleyhay on its path from Wirksworth to Duffield. Now a heritage railway mainly for the use of tourists it started off life in 1867 as both a passenger and freight route, the passenger trains were stopped in 1947 and the freight trains ceased operation in 1964, the whole line was closed in 1989. In 2000 a group of volunteers started work clearing the railway of vegetation, by 2002 the railway had reopened it passenger services on parts of the line. The line now is fully operational and is the longest heritage railway in Derbyshire. Train timetables on the line now coincide with the mainline railway service at Duffield meaning it is possible to commute anywhere on the national network from the Eccelsbourne Valley Railway. See also Listed buildings in Ashleyhay References Civil parishes in Derbyshire Villages in Derbyshire Towns and villages of the Peak District Geography of Amber Valley