Ashby de la Zouch is a small market town and civil parish in North West Leicestershire, England. Sometimes referred to in short as "Ashby", the town lies within the National Forest, and has a population of 12,758. It has a historic 15th century castle. The castle area was the setting for Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott. A local high school is named after the book (Ivanhoe College, for 11 to 14-year-olds). The local upper school, Ashby School, previously Ashby Grammar School, is a mixed comprehensive school for 14 to 18-year-olds and has its roots in the 16th century. In 1464 the town and castle came into the possession of the Hastings family.
Later the town was one of the Royalists' "chief garrisons" under the control of Colonel Henry Hastings, 1st Baron Loughborough and commander of the North Midlands Army. When the town fell after a long siege in March, 1646 it was counted a great relief to the surrounding towns and villages. Source : www.wikipedia.org.uk Local Attractions : Ashby-de-la-Zouch Castle Ferrers Centre for Arts & Crafts Bluebell Arboretum & Nursery