Ashbourne is a market town in the Derbyshire Dales in England. As a result of its proximity to the southern edge of the Peak District and being the nearest town to the well-known location of Dovedale, the town is called both the 'Gateway to Dovedale' and the 'Gateway to the Peak District'. As a result of this tourism has constantly been critical to the town's economy. In accordance with the 2011 Census, the town boasts a resident population of approximately 8377 people. It contains numerous historical buildings and several independent shops and is famous for its traditional annual Shrovetide football match. The cobbled market place hosts a traditional outdoor market every Thursday and Saturday all through the year, complementing the wide range of individual shops inside the town. Despite the fact that its market heritage is significant, Ashbourne's market was threatened with closure by Derbyshire County Council in November 2012. Residents of Ashbourne have opposed any such moves by the council and started an online petition. Ashbourne became the 97th Fairtrade Town in March 2005 following lots of local companies, cafes, shops and community organisations started supporting Fairtrade. Ashbourne features a substantial number of public houses for a very little town centre. At the moment, you will find 10 pubs open, together with two social clubs. The famous and rare 'gallows' sign across St John's Street remains a focal meeting point within the town. Local historians have noted that almost 1 in 4 buildings within the town have at one time or another been an alehouse, pub or inn or underwent renovations on the site of such an establishment. For all of your home improvement work, make certain that you utilise trustworthy pros in Ashbourne to make sure that you get the top quality service.