Its name is derived from the Saxon, meaning 'Aelfstan's open land' and its Saxon occupation is indicated by the fortified hill farms, the remains of which can be seen on the West overlooking the Manifold valley and by the many lynchets, the name given to areas of the hillsides which were levelled so that crops could be grown. These are best seen when the sun is low in the early morning or in the evening..
Lynchets seen across the Manifold valley in the morning sun.
The Peak district itself is named after the Saxon tribe of Pecstaetans or hill dwellers who occupied the region.
The Romans left evidence of their occupation in neighbouring towns and villages but none has been conclusively identified at Alstonefield, although Thomas Bateman, who excavated Steep Low, a very likely site for a barrow, in 1845, was told that some Roman coins had previously been seen there.
In 667 St.Chad passed through the area and in 892 St.Oswald, the Archbishop of York,after a period of pagan uprising visited the parish to perform the dedication of St.Peter's and to renew confidence in the Church. The fragments of Saxon crosses of St. Peter's are said to date from 900-920, very shortly after that visit.
The village was mentioned in the Domesday Book, 1086, and it was noted in the Latin shorthand of that time that "William holds from him 3 virgates of land. Land for three ploughs. In lordship 1; 1 villager with 1 plough." The land was then held by Godwin but was given by William the Conquerer to Hugh d'Avranches his nephew who was created Earl of Chester. The Norman arch in the chancel of St.Peter's church was built at about the same time and completed in 1100. In 1111 the de Malbancs held power at Alstonefield and, after founding Combermere Abbey in 1130 they gave the monks there the Parish of Alstonefield with the associated granaries which were at places now called granges, Gateham and Hanson within the parish boundaries with Newton and Wolfscote just on the periphery. Thus indicating that arable crops were then very valuable. In 1308 Alstonefield was granted a charter for a market but little more is known of the late medieval period. In 1538 parish registers started to be kept at Alstonefield and in 1571 the Harpur family started to acquire rights to the village and surrounding areas becoming in the eighteenth century one of the 'rich list' of those days, being among the 500 wealthiest families in the country.
The parish had considerable importance as the mother parish of Wetton, Butterton, Warslow and Ilam, the flocks of which are even now tended by the Vicars of Alstonefield.
The village was a centre of trade as many packhorse tracks passed close by and it served as a major conduit for Lead from the local mines, for Copper from Ecton on the edge of the parish, for salt from Cheshire and for Limestone, which was used, for fertilizer in acid soils.
The packhorse routes were so well trodden that they formed hollow ways which can be seen crossing modern roads and sometimes even forming parts of those roads.
The proceeds from the Ecton copper mine were sufficient to enable the fifth Duke of Devonshire to build the crescent at Buxton in 1780. Despite this affluence two years later in 1782 Thomas Gilbert's Act of Union was passed which authorised adjacent parishes to combine to support workhouses for the old, the sick and the infirm. The three story workhouse now euphemistically called 'The Hermitage' is currently residential property.
The hills were initially covered with woodland, usually the indigenous ash, but this was cleared for Lead smelting which was done either locally or on Millstone Grit, to the North. Clearing continued for grazing, then for the construction of houses and ships and, eventually for the manufacture of charcoal before coal became the preferred fuel of industry. As the hills were deforested pasture became available for grazing and many breeds of cattle as well as the familiar black faced Derbyshire sheep were bred. Sheep grazing has limited re-aforestation and ensured an even grassy covering of the Peaks and Dales.
The Peak villages were largely self sufficient but were opened up in the nineteenth century by the development of the railways. The position of Alstonefield was not suitable for laying railway lines and these were laid to the East and the West. These never proved to be economically viable and speculators lost considerable sums while the lines themselves were taken up during the Beeching reforms of the post war British Government and often turned into leisure areas, the Tissington trail and the Manifold valley walk, as often used by cyclists as by walkers.
The village now is largely residential but there are active farms, some excellent craftsmen and a regular, large influx of tourists who enjoy and respect the countryside.
A copiously illustrated booklet with details of more recent history of Alstonefield "Alstonefield Memories" was published to commemorate the millenium by the Chairman of the Parish Council, Tim Eades but is now a collectors item.