Thornaby-on-Tees
Encyclopedia
Thornaby-on-Tees is a town and civil parish within the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees, in the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire
, England
. It is on the south bank of the River Tees
, three miles (5 km) southeast of Stockton-on-Tees
, and four miles (7 km) southwest of Middlesbrough
town centre and has a population of 22,620.
said to date from about 1600 – 1400 BC was found in the mud under 8 feet (2.4 m) of water opposite Thornaby High Wood. An arrowhead
of the Neolithic Period (about 3000 BC) was found in a garden on Thornaby Village Green.
(1066), one of William the Conqueror's noblemen, Robert I de Brus
, marched north with a garrison of men and occupied the area of Cleveland
. William gave him those lands to control including Thornaby and Middlesbrough
.
at York
by killing the entire garrison of 3,000 men. William
swore an oath
to take revenge on Sweyn by destroying every house and dwelling in the lands under Sweyn's rule, leaving all the land in the north east of Yorkshire
barren and bare.
In the Domesday Book Thornaby is mentioned five times with four different spellings, Tormozbi, Turmozbi, Thurmozbi and Tormozbia. Thornaby's first mention in the Domesday Book states:- "Robert Malet has these lands and they are waste." It appears that they remained undeveloped until the early 19th century as "Thurnaby waaste" is mentioned in a poem by Tennyson called "The Northern Farmer.".
. In 1825, Thornaby, centred around St Peter's Church and the old village green
was gradually overshadowed by the burgeoning newly named town of South Stockton which was two miles away. South Stockton was on the Yorkshire side of the river Tees opposite Stockton-on-Tees
, the name of this area originally being Mandale which was noted as a separate settlement from Thornaby. It was not until the local government act of 1863 that the district of South Stockton officially came into being. In 1825 South Stockton became the site of William Smiths pottery and the area quickly grew with the establishment of shipbuilding and engineering. Stockton Council made two attempts to take over the local board of South Stockton, first in 1869 and again in 1883, but without success. On 6 October 1892 South Stockton and Old Thornaby merged into one to form the municipal borough
of Thornaby-on-Tees.
on the village green is believed to be of 12th century origin but a place of worship is said to have existed at the time of the Domesday Book
of 1086. The unusual dedication to St. Peter ad Vincula
("St. Peter in chains") is derived from the ancient Basilica
of San Pietro in Vincoli
in Rome
. The building, with a simple nave
and a bell turret with two bells, was originally dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene. Grace Pace, the mother of Captain James Cook
, was baptised at St. Peter's in 1702.
at Acre
, swore to raise a shrine
to the Virgin Mary if he survived his wounds. He did, and as part of his wish a shrine niche to the Virgin Mary, lit by five sanctuary lamp
s, was placed in St. Peter's Church.
of Yorkshire
, and it was made a municipal borough
of the North Riding of Yorkshire
in 1892. Thornaby-on-Tees lost its independence when it was amalgamated with other areas such as Middlesbrough
, Redcar
and Stockton-on-Tees
in 1968 to form the county borough
of Teesside
, and then in 1974 it became part of the borough of Stockton-on-Tees in the new non-metropolitan county of Cleveland
. Although on the opposite side of the River Tees and in a different county, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council approached Thornaby-on-Tees Borough Council on several occasions over the years with a view to an amalgamation between the two authorities, however, these ideas were refused outright by Thornaby-on-Tees Borough Council.
In 1995 Thornaby Town Council was reformed within the borough of Stockton-on-Tees.
Cleveland
County (1974–1996) was abolished in 1996 under the Banham review
, with Stockton-on-Tees becoming a unitary authority
. Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council is the only authority in the country to be split between two Ceremonial Counties, County Durham to the north of the River Tees, and North Yorkshire to the south of the Tees (though because it straddles the Thames, the London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames lies partly in the historic County of Middlesex - which no longer exists except as a county cricket club - and partly in the historic County of Surrey).
, an early flying pioneer. The next known use was by the Royal Flying Corps
who used the same fields between 1914 and 1918 as a staging post between Catterick
and Marske
aerodromes.
In about 1925 negotiations began on the opening of a full-time aerodrome and in the late 1920s the Air Ministry
constructed an airfield to the south of the town and the station which was the second permanent aerodrome to be built in Yorkshire (the first being Catterick) was opened on 29 September 1929. During World War II
, Thornaby came under the control of 18 group, Coastal Command, prior to this however it had come under Flying Training, Fighter and Bomber Command
s, and post-war under Reserve and Fighter Commands, at this time (post-war) it was also used by the Royal Air Force Regiment. During the war a variety of tasks were carried out from RAF Thornaby
, such as, attacks on targets in Europe, anti submarine patrols, operational training, strikes against enemy shipping, leaflet dropping and air sea rescue operations.
The last aircraft to leave R.A.F. Thornaby (Hawker Hunter F6s
) left on 1 October 1958 and hope faded for the further use of Thornaby as a regional airport on 23 February 1962 when all but 60 acres (242,811.6 m²) of land was purchased from the Air Ministry by Thornaby-on-Tees Borough Council. Work began almost immediately on transforming the airfield and throughout the 1960s and 1970s it was extensively redeveloped with modern housing, a shopping centre, sports centre and an industrial estate (the first in the region).
Today many symbols of Thornaby's aeronautical past remain with streets, buildings and pubs using names of RAF aircraft, stations and personnel. The Bader School (built on the former airfield) on Kintyre Drive was named after and opened by Sir Douglas Bader
on 10 November 1971. In 1976 a stained glass window in St Paul's Church on Thornaby Road was dedicated to the RAF at Thornaby. In 1997 a statue was erected on Thornaby Road, it is dedicated to all who served at RAF Thornaby. In 2007 a full-size replica Spitfire aircraft was erected on the roundabout at the junction of Thornaby Road, Bader Avenue and Trenchard Avenue. Hidden beneath the roundabout is part of one of the three runways which used to run east to west.
On 10 November 2011 an R.A.F. Search and Rescue Sea King Helicopter paid a three hour visit to Bader primary to help celebrate the 40th anniversary of Sir Douglas Bader opening the school. The day of activities included a visit by representatives from RAF Leeming, the Commanding Officer at Catterick Garrison, Middlesbrough Armed Forces Careers Office and the Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team.
is probably the squadron best remembered by the townsfolk. It was formed here on 17 March 1930 and went on to carry out sterling service during World War Two within both Coastal and Bomber Commands. After the war, on 10 May 1946 the squadron was re-formed at Thornaby and carried on in Reserve Command "at home" until the squadron disbanded for the last time on 10 March 1957. 608 (North Riding) Squadron's Standard, which was approved by the Queen and bears their battle honours, can be seen housed in York Minster
under the Astronomical Clock where it was laid-up on 14 November 1959. The numerous items of glass and silverware which were presented to the squadron during their service are held by Middlesbrough Council, are housed in Middlesbrough Town Hall and are to be returned to the squadron should it ever re-form.
.It is home to Durham University
's Queen's Campus. This campus lies on the southern bank of the Tees on the Yorkshire side in Thornaby-on-Tees, so although it is part of Durham University, it is not in County Durham
. Durham University was the second university to be approached due to Teesside University (who were first approached) not having the funds available necessary to run the university. Adjacent to the Queen's College campus of Durham University is "Stockton Riverside College", a major provider of Further Education in the Tees Valley with around 10,000 full & part-time students. It too is not in Stockton, it actually lies on the southern banks of the river Tees in Thornaby on Tees.
, Thornaby is undergoing a major redevelopment and regeneration. The old Mandale Estate is being demolished and Mandale Park is being built to provide new affordable housing. The Pavilion shopping centre, off Allensway in Thornaby New Town, has been redeveloped and was completed in autumn 2009. It is said to have created around 200 jobs and improved leisure, economic and environmental aspects of local life. An official launch event was held in the Thornaby New Town town centre on Saturday 25 April 2009. There is a council owned Leisure Centre and Library, several banks, Post office, Medical Practice, chemists, Asda supermarket, many other shops and a small market on Thursdays. Since the redevelopment the interest in the town centre has significantly increased..
Thornaby won a number of awards in 2008; it won the silver gilt award for best small cities, with its Northumbria in Bloom entry, which was repeated in 2011. Thornaby Cemetery has won the green flag award
and is continuing to improve after winning the Cemetery of the Year award in 2006. Despite this status having been lost in 2006, due to complaints concerning illicit use of the cemetery, the Green Flag status was restored by 2011.
Teesside Park
is also in Thornaby; it was formerly a racecourse and is now a shopping park.
Thornaby held its fourth Yorkshire Day
event in August 2011.
For more information on Thornaby Yorkshire day event contact Thornaby Town Council. This is not an event advertised by Stockton Borough Council.
The annual Thornaby Show takes place at the beginning of September, it is estimated that more than 10,000 people turn up over the course of the day.
), the novelist Pat Barker
, actor, Richard Griffiths
and ventriloquist, Dean Atkinson were all born in Thornaby, as well as Paul Curran
- the championship cyclist.
Norma Farnes was born and bred in Thornaby. She went to London and ended up as Spike Milligan and Eric Sykes manager. Norma has edited and wrote several successful books.
Local musicians include Dean Henderson, who was known as the youngest professional drummer at the age of 15. He went on to work with many famous artists throughout his 20 year career including John Headley, Sting, Tom Jones
, Mick Hucknell to name a few. He also started work at Teesbeat recording studio
with his good friend Dimmer Blackwell. Henderson now lives in California
after moving to the US
after a tour with the Crazy River band.
In 1984 Argyll acquired the Thornaby-based Amos Hinton plc which operated 55 supermarkets under the Hinton's
name in the North East of England, Cumbria
and Yorkshire
. Although the Hintons name remained above the door, Hintons' own brand products were quickly replaced with Presto
brands as well as Argyll's "Basics" low price brand.
The Hinton's building in Thornaby had to be demolished due to an arson
attack in May 1994, the site now host a mid range cost housing estate.
Holly Hagan, part of the Geordie Shore
cast, lives in the town.
s; St Patrick's Catholic College and Thornaby Academy.
Teesdale in Thornaby-on-Tees, immediately across the river Tees from Stockton-on-Tees, is the location of the two colleges, Stevenson and John Snow, which form the Queen's Campus site of Durham University.http://www.dur.ac.uk/queens-campus/ It is also the location of Stockton Riverside College which, with about 10,000 full & part-time students, is one of the major Further Education suppliers of the Tees Valley.http://www.stockton.ac.uk/
These colleges are built on the former heavy industrial and ship building area of Thornaby which was demolished in the late 1980s. Head Wrightsons named the area their "Teesdale" site and long after they left Thornaby the name has stayed with that area of the town.
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is on the south bank of the River Tees
River Tees
The River Tees is in Northern England. It rises on the eastern slope of Cross Fell in the North Pennines, and flows eastwards for 85 miles to reach the North Sea between Hartlepool and Redcar.-Geography:...
, three miles (5 km) southeast of Stockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees is a market town in north east England. It is the major settlement in the unitary authority and borough of Stockton-on-Tees. For ceremonial purposes, the borough is split between County Durham and North Yorkshire as it also incorporates a number of smaller towns including...
, and four miles (7 km) southwest of Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
town centre and has a population of 22,620.
Early history
Thornaby is said to have come into existence about AD 800 when the land was given by Halfdene, King of the Danes, to Thormod, one of his noblemen, hence "Thormods-by" - Thormod's village.Prehistoric settlement
There are other signs of Thornaby being a much older settlement. Traces of prehistoric man have been found, the earliest being a stone axe, 8 inches long, dating back to the Mesolithic Period (about 3000 BC). In 1926 a dugout canoeDugout (boat)
A dugout or dugout canoe is a boat made from a hollowed tree trunk. Other names for this type of boat are logboat and monoxylon. Monoxylon is Greek -- mono- + ξύλον xylon -- and is mostly used in classic Greek texts. In Germany they are called einbaum )...
said to date from about 1600 – 1400 BC was found in the mud under 8 feet (2.4 m) of water opposite Thornaby High Wood. An arrowhead
Arrowhead
An arrowhead is a tip, usually sharpened, added to an arrow to make it more deadly or to fulfill some special purpose. Historically arrowheads were made of stone and of organic materials; as human civilization progressed other materials were used...
of the Neolithic Period (about 3000 BC) was found in a garden on Thornaby Village Green.
Norman era
During the Battle of HastingsBattle of Hastings
The Battle of Hastings occurred on 14 October 1066 during the Norman conquest of England, between the Norman-French army of Duke William II of Normandy and the English army under King Harold II...
(1066), one of William the Conqueror's noblemen, Robert I de Brus
Robert de Brus, 1st Lord of Annandale
Robert I de Brus, 1st Lord of Annandale was an early 12th century Norman baron and knight, the first of the Bruce dynasty of Scotland and England...
, marched north with a garrison of men and occupied the area of Cleveland
Cleveland, England
Cleveland is an area in the north east of England. Its name means literally "cliff-land", referring to its hilly southern areas, which rise to nearly...
. William gave him those lands to control including Thornaby and Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
.
Danish invasion and the Domesday Book
The then King of Denmark, Sweyn, on 9 September 1069 defeated the NormansNormans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
at York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
by killing the entire garrison of 3,000 men. William
William I of England
William I , also known as William the Conqueror , was the first Norman King of England from Christmas 1066 until his death. He was also Duke of Normandy from 3 July 1035 until his death, under the name William II...
swore an oath
Oath
An oath is either a statement of fact or a promise calling upon something or someone that the oath maker considers sacred, usually God, as a witness to the binding nature of the promise or the truth of the statement of fact. To swear is to take an oath, to make a solemn vow...
to take revenge on Sweyn by destroying every house and dwelling in the lands under Sweyn's rule, leaving all the land in the north east of Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
barren and bare.
In the Domesday Book Thornaby is mentioned five times with four different spellings, Tormozbi, Turmozbi, Thurmozbi and Tormozbia. Thornaby's first mention in the Domesday Book states:- "Robert Malet has these lands and they are waste." It appears that they remained undeveloped until the early 19th century as "Thurnaby waaste" is mentioned in a poem by Tennyson called "The Northern Farmer.".
Town formation
Over the centuries there have been a number of different spellings of the name Thornaby including Turmozbi, Tormozbi, Tormozbia and Thurmozbi. The form Thornaby first appears in 1665 and refers to old Thornaby village near the River TeesRiver Tees
The River Tees is in Northern England. It rises on the eastern slope of Cross Fell in the North Pennines, and flows eastwards for 85 miles to reach the North Sea between Hartlepool and Redcar.-Geography:...
. In 1825, Thornaby, centred around St Peter's Church and the old village green
Village green
A village green is a common open area which is a part of a settlement. Traditionally, such an area was often common grass land at the centre of a small agricultural settlement, used for grazing and sometimes for community events...
was gradually overshadowed by the burgeoning newly named town of South Stockton which was two miles away. South Stockton was on the Yorkshire side of the river Tees opposite Stockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees is a market town in north east England. It is the major settlement in the unitary authority and borough of Stockton-on-Tees. For ceremonial purposes, the borough is split between County Durham and North Yorkshire as it also incorporates a number of smaller towns including...
, the name of this area originally being Mandale which was noted as a separate settlement from Thornaby. It was not until the local government act of 1863 that the district of South Stockton officially came into being. In 1825 South Stockton became the site of William Smiths pottery and the area quickly grew with the establishment of shipbuilding and engineering. Stockton Council made two attempts to take over the local board of South Stockton, first in 1869 and again in 1883, but without success. On 6 October 1892 South Stockton and Old Thornaby merged into one to form the municipal borough
Municipal borough
Municipal boroughs were a type of local government district which existed in England and Wales between 1835 and 1974, in Northern Ireland from 1840 to 1973 and in the Republic of Ireland from 1840 to 2002...
of Thornaby-on-Tees.
Parish church
The Anglican parish churchChurch of England parish church
A parish church in the Church of England is the church which acts as the religious centre for the people within the smallest and most basic Church of England administrative region, known as a parish.-Parishes in England:...
on the village green is believed to be of 12th century origin but a place of worship is said to have existed at the time of the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
of 1086. The unusual dedication to St. Peter ad Vincula
Liberation of Saint Peter
The Liberation of Saint Peter is a story told in the Acts of the Apostles in which Saint Peter is rescued from prison by an angel. Although described in a short textual passage, the tale has given rise to theological discussions and has been the subject of a number of artworks.-Biblical...
("St. Peter in chains") is derived from the ancient Basilica
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
of San Pietro in Vincoli
San Pietro in Vincoli
San Pietro in Vincoli is a Roman Catholic titular church and minor basilica in Rome, Italy, best known for being the home of Michelangelo's statue of Moses, part of the tomb of Pope Julius II.-History:...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. The building, with a simple nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
and a bell turret with two bells, was originally dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene. Grace Pace, the mother of Captain James Cook
James Cook
Captain James Cook, FRS, RN was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer who ultimately rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy...
, was baptised at St. Peter's in 1702.
Story of the Five Lamps
It is said that Robert de Thormodbi, wounded in the CrusadesCrusades
The Crusades were a series of religious wars, blessed by the Pope and the Catholic Church with the main goal of restoring Christian access to the holy places in and near Jerusalem...
at Acre
Acre, Israel
Acre , is a city in the Western Galilee region of northern Israel at the northern extremity of Haifa Bay. Acre is one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites in the country....
, swore to raise a shrine
Shrine
A shrine is a holy or sacred place, which is dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon or similar figure of awe and respect, at which they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated....
to the Virgin Mary if he survived his wounds. He did, and as part of his wish a shrine niche to the Virgin Mary, lit by five sanctuary lamp
Sanctuary lamp
A sanctuary lamp, altar lamp, everlasting light or eternal flame is a light that shines before the altar of sanctuaries in many denominations of Jewish and Christian places of worship. Prescribed in ] 27:20-21] of the Hebrew Bible, this icon has taken on different meanings in each of the religions...
s, was placed in St. Peter's Church.
Civic history
Thornaby lies within the historic county boundariesHistoric counties of England
The historic counties of England are subdivisions of England established for administration by the Normans and in most cases based on earlier Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and shires...
of Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, and it was made a municipal borough
Municipal borough
Municipal boroughs were a type of local government district which existed in England and Wales between 1835 and 1974, in Northern Ireland from 1840 to 1973 and in the Republic of Ireland from 1840 to 2002...
of the North Riding of Yorkshire
North Riding of Yorkshire
The North Riding of Yorkshire was one of the three historic subdivisions of the English county of Yorkshire, alongside the East and West Ridings. From the Restoration it was used as a Lieutenancy area. The three ridings were treated as three counties for many purposes, such as having separate...
in 1892. Thornaby-on-Tees lost its independence when it was amalgamated with other areas such as Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
, Redcar
Redcar
Redcar is a seaside resort in the north east of England, and a major town in the unitary authority of Redcar and Cleveland in the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire. It lies east-northeast of Middlesbrough by the North Sea coast...
and Stockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees is a market town in north east England. It is the major settlement in the unitary authority and borough of Stockton-on-Tees. For ceremonial purposes, the borough is split between County Durham and North Yorkshire as it also incorporates a number of smaller towns including...
in 1968 to form the county borough
County borough
County borough is a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , to refer to a borough or a city independent of county council control. They were abolished by the Local Government Act 1972 in England and Wales, but continue in use for lieutenancy and shrievalty in...
of Teesside
Teesside
Teesside is the name given to the conurbation in the north east of England made up of the towns of Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, Redcar, Billingham and surrounding settlements near the River Tees. It was also the name of a local government district between 1968 and 1974—the County Borough of...
, and then in 1974 it became part of the borough of Stockton-on-Tees in the new non-metropolitan county of Cleveland
Cleveland, England
Cleveland is an area in the north east of England. Its name means literally "cliff-land", referring to its hilly southern areas, which rise to nearly...
. Although on the opposite side of the River Tees and in a different county, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council approached Thornaby-on-Tees Borough Council on several occasions over the years with a view to an amalgamation between the two authorities, however, these ideas were refused outright by Thornaby-on-Tees Borough Council.
In 1995 Thornaby Town Council was reformed within the borough of Stockton-on-Tees.
Cleveland
Cleveland, England
Cleveland is an area in the north east of England. Its name means literally "cliff-land", referring to its hilly southern areas, which rise to nearly...
County (1974–1996) was abolished in 1996 under the Banham review
Local Government Commission for England (1992)
The Local Government Commission for England was the body responsible for reviewing the structure of local government in England from 1992 to 2002. It was established under the Local Government Act 1992, replacing the Local Government Boundary Commission for England...
, with Stockton-on-Tees becoming a unitary authority
Unitary authority
A unitary authority is a type of local authority that has a single tier and is responsible for all local government functions within its area or performs additional functions which elsewhere in the relevant country are usually performed by national government or a higher level of sub-national...
. Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council is the only authority in the country to be split between two Ceremonial Counties, County Durham to the north of the River Tees, and North Yorkshire to the south of the Tees (though because it straddles the Thames, the London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames lies partly in the historic County of Middlesex - which no longer exists except as a county cricket club - and partly in the historic County of Surrey).
Royal Air Force
The earliest known flying in Thornaby took place in 1912 when Matthew Young of the Vale Farm was paid 100 Gold Sovereigns for the use of a field for an airshow. Taking place on a Saturday afternoon in June or July, one of the main events was flying by Gustav HamelGustav Hamel
Gustav Hamel was a pioneer British aviator.Hamel was prominent in the early history of aviation in Britain, and in particular that of Hendon airfield, where Claude Graham-White was energetically developing and promoting flying.-Biography:Gustav Hamel was educated at Westminster School and chose to...
, an early flying pioneer. The next known use was by the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
who used the same fields between 1914 and 1918 as a staging post between Catterick
RAF Catterick
RAF Catterick is a former Royal Air Force airfield located near Catterick, North Yorkshire in England.-History:Catterick airfield first opened in 1914 as a Royal Flying Corps aerodrome with the role of training pilots and to assist in the defence of the North East of England...
and Marske
Marske-by-the-Sea
Marske-by-the-Sea is a village in the unitary authority of Redcar and Cleveland and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England.It is located on the coast, in an area sometimes referred to as East Cleveland, between the seaside resorts of Redcar and Saltburn-by-the-Sea although it is not...
aerodromes.
In about 1925 negotiations began on the opening of a full-time aerodrome and in the late 1920s the Air Ministry
Air Ministry
The Air Ministry was a department of the British Government with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964...
constructed an airfield to the south of the town and the station which was the second permanent aerodrome to be built in Yorkshire (the first being Catterick) was opened on 29 September 1929. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Thornaby came under the control of 18 group, Coastal Command, prior to this however it had come under Flying Training, Fighter and Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command controlled the RAF's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. During World War II the command destroyed a significant proportion of Nazi Germany's industries and many German cities, and in the 1960s stood at the peak of its postwar military power with the V bombers and a supplemental...
s, and post-war under Reserve and Fighter Commands, at this time (post-war) it was also used by the Royal Air Force Regiment. During the war a variety of tasks were carried out from RAF Thornaby
RAF Thornaby
RAF Thornaby was a former RAF Station located at the Teesside town of Thornaby-on-Tees, North Yorkshire. The station was created in the mid 1920s and came under the control of No. 18 Group, RAF Coastal Command in 1939. Being used mostly for reconnaissance work, anti shipping strikes, and attacks on...
, such as, attacks on targets in Europe, anti submarine patrols, operational training, strikes against enemy shipping, leaflet dropping and air sea rescue operations.
The last aircraft to leave R.A.F. Thornaby (Hawker Hunter F6s
Hawker Hunter
The Hawker Hunter is a subsonic British jet aircraft developed in the 1950s. The single-seat Hunter entered service as a manoeuvrable fighter aircraft, and later operated in fighter-bomber and reconnaissance roles in numerous conflicts. Two-seat variants remained in use for training and secondary...
) left on 1 October 1958 and hope faded for the further use of Thornaby as a regional airport on 23 February 1962 when all but 60 acres (242,811.6 m²) of land was purchased from the Air Ministry by Thornaby-on-Tees Borough Council. Work began almost immediately on transforming the airfield and throughout the 1960s and 1970s it was extensively redeveloped with modern housing, a shopping centre, sports centre and an industrial estate (the first in the region).
Today many symbols of Thornaby's aeronautical past remain with streets, buildings and pubs using names of RAF aircraft, stations and personnel. The Bader School (built on the former airfield) on Kintyre Drive was named after and opened by Sir Douglas Bader
Douglas Bader
Group Captain Sir Douglas Robert Steuart Bader CBE, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar, FRAeS, DL was a Royal Air Force fighter ace during the Second World War. He was credited with 20 aerial victories, four shared victories, six probables, one shared probable and 11 enemy aircraft damaged.Bader joined the...
on 10 November 1971. In 1976 a stained glass window in St Paul's Church on Thornaby Road was dedicated to the RAF at Thornaby. In 1997 a statue was erected on Thornaby Road, it is dedicated to all who served at RAF Thornaby. In 2007 a full-size replica Spitfire aircraft was erected on the roundabout at the junction of Thornaby Road, Bader Avenue and Trenchard Avenue. Hidden beneath the roundabout is part of one of the three runways which used to run east to west.
On 10 November 2011 an R.A.F. Search and Rescue Sea King Helicopter paid a three hour visit to Bader primary to help celebrate the 40th anniversary of Sir Douglas Bader opening the school. The day of activities included a visit by representatives from RAF Leeming, the Commanding Officer at Catterick Garrison, Middlesbrough Armed Forces Careers Office and the Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team.
608 (North Riding) squadron
Of all the squadrons to have been based at RAF Thornaby during its operational period, "Thornaby's own" 608 (North Riding) squadronNo. 608 Squadron RAF
No. 608 Squadron was an Auxiliary Air Force squadron of the Royal Air Force during World War II. It flew during its existence as a bomber, fighter and reconnaissance unit and was the only RAF squadron to be equipped with the unsuccessful Blackburn Botha torpedo bomber.-Formation and early years:...
is probably the squadron best remembered by the townsfolk. It was formed here on 17 March 1930 and went on to carry out sterling service during World War Two within both Coastal and Bomber Commands. After the war, on 10 May 1946 the squadron was re-formed at Thornaby and carried on in Reserve Command "at home" until the squadron disbanded for the last time on 10 March 1957. 608 (North Riding) Squadron's Standard, which was approved by the Queen and bears their battle honours, can be seen housed in York Minster
York Minster
York Minster is a Gothic cathedral in York, England and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe alongside Cologne Cathedral. The minster is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the second-highest office of the Church of England, and is the cathedral for the Diocese of York; it is run by...
under the Astronomical Clock where it was laid-up on 14 November 1959. The numerous items of glass and silverware which were presented to the squadron during their service are held by Middlesbrough Council, are housed in Middlesbrough Town Hall and are to be returned to the squadron should it ever re-form.
Present day
The town is served by Thornaby railway stationThornaby railway station
Thornaby railway station serves the town of Thornaby-on-Tees and due to having better connections than Stockton railway station also much of Stockton-on-Tees. It is located in the borough of Stockton-on-Tees and in the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
.It is home to Durham University
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
's Queen's Campus. This campus lies on the southern bank of the Tees on the Yorkshire side in Thornaby-on-Tees, so although it is part of Durham University, it is not in County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
. Durham University was the second university to be approached due to Teesside University (who were first approached) not having the funds available necessary to run the university. Adjacent to the Queen's College campus of Durham University is "Stockton Riverside College", a major provider of Further Education in the Tees Valley with around 10,000 full & part-time students. It too is not in Stockton, it actually lies on the southern banks of the river Tees in Thornaby on Tees.
, Thornaby is undergoing a major redevelopment and regeneration. The old Mandale Estate is being demolished and Mandale Park is being built to provide new affordable housing. The Pavilion shopping centre, off Allensway in Thornaby New Town, has been redeveloped and was completed in autumn 2009. It is said to have created around 200 jobs and improved leisure, economic and environmental aspects of local life. An official launch event was held in the Thornaby New Town town centre on Saturday 25 April 2009. There is a council owned Leisure Centre and Library, several banks, Post office, Medical Practice, chemists, Asda supermarket, many other shops and a small market on Thursdays. Since the redevelopment the interest in the town centre has significantly increased..
Thornaby won a number of awards in 2008; it won the silver gilt award for best small cities, with its Northumbria in Bloom entry, which was repeated in 2011. Thornaby Cemetery has won the green flag award
Green Flag award
The Green Flag Award is the benchmark national standard for parks and green spaces in the United Kingdom. The scheme was set up in 1996 to recognise and reward green spaces in England and Wales that met the laid down high standards...
and is continuing to improve after winning the Cemetery of the Year award in 2006. Despite this status having been lost in 2006, due to complaints concerning illicit use of the cemetery, the Green Flag status was restored by 2011.
Teesside Park
Teesside Park
Teesside Park is a retail superstore and leisure development in north east England, built in 1988. Located just off the A66 near the A66/A19 interchange, it is split between the unity authorities of Stockton-on-Tees and Middlesbrough with the line of the Old River Tees, which runs down the middle...
is also in Thornaby; it was formerly a racecourse and is now a shopping park.
Thornaby held its fourth Yorkshire Day
Yorkshire Day
Yorkshire Day is celebrated on 1 August to promote the historic English county of Yorkshire. It was celebrated in 1975, by the Yorkshire Ridings Society, initially in Beverley, as "protest movement against the Local Government re-organisation of 1974", The date alludes to the Battle of Minden, and...
event in August 2011.
For more information on Thornaby Yorkshire day event contact Thornaby Town Council. This is not an event advertised by Stockton Borough Council.
The annual Thornaby Show takes place at the beginning of September, it is estimated that more than 10,000 people turn up over the course of the day.
Notable people
Grace Pace (the mother of Captain James CookJames Cook
Captain James Cook, FRS, RN was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer who ultimately rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy...
), the novelist Pat Barker
Pat Barker
Pat Barker CBE, FRSL is an English writer and novelist. She has won many awards for her fiction, which centres around themes of memory, trauma, survival and recovery. Her work is described as direct, blunt and plainspoken.-Personal life:...
, actor, Richard Griffiths
Richard Griffiths
Richard Griffiths, OBE is an English actor of stage, film and television. He has received the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play, the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Featured Actor and a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor...
and ventriloquist, Dean Atkinson were all born in Thornaby, as well as Paul Curran
Paul Curran (cyclist)
Paul Curran is a former professional English racing cyclist from Thornaby, Cleveland. He rode for Great Britain in the Olympic Games, won the national road championship and won several medals at the Commonwealth Games.-Cycling career:...
- the championship cyclist.
Norma Farnes was born and bred in Thornaby. She went to London and ended up as Spike Milligan and Eric Sykes manager. Norma has edited and wrote several successful books.
Local musicians include Dean Henderson, who was known as the youngest professional drummer at the age of 15. He went on to work with many famous artists throughout his 20 year career including John Headley, Sting, Tom Jones
Tom Jones (singer)
Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...
, Mick Hucknell to name a few. He also started work at Teesbeat recording studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
with his good friend Dimmer Blackwell. Henderson now lives in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
after moving to the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
after a tour with the Crazy River band.
Hintons
Hintons plc was a small supermarket chain from the North of England, bought out in a takeover by Argyll Foods in 1984.-History:The Company was founded by Amos Hinton in Middlesbrough in 1871 when he bought out John Birks' shop in South Street. By 1919 the business had expanded such that it had...
name in the North East of England, Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
and Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
. Although the Hintons name remained above the door, Hintons' own brand products were quickly replaced with Presto
Presto (UK Supermarket)
Presto Foodmarkets was a chain of supermarkets and convenience stores in Great Britain. The brand finally disappeared during 1998.-Presto Foodmarkets:...
brands as well as Argyll's "Basics" low price brand.
The Hinton's building in Thornaby had to be demolished due to an arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
attack in May 1994, the site now host a mid range cost housing estate.
Holly Hagan, part of the Geordie Shore
Geordie Shore
Geordie Shore is a reality television series, broadcast by MTV and available the next day via iTunes. Set in and around Newcastle upon Tyne, it is the British adaptation of American show Jersey Shore. The first episode aired on 24 May 2011. Geordie Shore is the first official adaptation from the...
cast, lives in the town.
Education
Thornaby is served by two secondary schoolSecondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
s; St Patrick's Catholic College and Thornaby Academy.
Teesdale in Thornaby-on-Tees, immediately across the river Tees from Stockton-on-Tees, is the location of the two colleges, Stevenson and John Snow, which form the Queen's Campus site of Durham University.http://www.dur.ac.uk/queens-campus/ It is also the location of Stockton Riverside College which, with about 10,000 full & part-time students, is one of the major Further Education suppliers of the Tees Valley.http://www.stockton.ac.uk/
These colleges are built on the former heavy industrial and ship building area of Thornaby which was demolished in the late 1980s. Head Wrightsons named the area their "Teesdale" site and long after they left Thornaby the name has stayed with that area of the town.