In 1835 Pleasley was described as situated on the road from Nottingham to Chesterfield, and on the river Meden. The land is chiefly arable, but there are 300 acres of woodland and plantation. The soil is good, upon a substratum of limestone. The parish comprises the villages of Stoney Houghton, and Shirebrook. The village, which appears once to have been of more importance than at present, is a decayed market town, the cross still standing, and has a mechanics' institute and library. There are two extensive cotton mills at Pleasley Vale, which employ a large number of hands. In the park adjoining the cotton-mills is a large enclosure, with a double vallum and entrenchment, two sides of which are secured by natural precipices, and is evidently a Saxon work.