Thorne
Encyclopedia
Thorne is a market town
and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster
in South Yorkshire
, England
. It has a population of 16,592.
, and is located at approximately 53°36′30"N 0°57′30"W, at an elevation of around 5 metres above sea level
, on the Yorkshire
side of the border with Lincolnshire
. The civil parish of Thorne also takes in the village of Moorends
to the north.
The town is served by two railway stations: Thorne North
, and Thorne South
; as well as Junction 6 of the M18 and junction 1 of the M180
. The A614
runs through the town, crossing the canal.
, Bronze Age
and Iron Age
people. It became a permanent settlement around AD700, and is mentioned in the Domesday Book
.
The main industries in the town have traditionally been coal mining
and farming, although many residents now commute to Doncaster
.
concerts are held in the park
during the summer months, which is also the location for the Thorne Memorial Park Miniature Railway
and the annual Thorne Festival. The area now has its very own Community Radio
station, TMCR 95.3.
Notable buildings in the town include the eleventh century parish church
and the motte
of Peel Hill Castle. Other attractions include the extensive Thorne Moors.
during the winter season and the Rugby League Conference
during the summer.
Thorne is also home to the rugby union side Thornensians RUFC who currently play in Yorkshire Division 3.
Speedway racing, then known as Dirt Track racing, was staged a track on the southern edge of the town in 1930. Billed as "The Wembley of the North" the track was a bit basic and followed the edge of the football pitch on the inside of the track. Rather than two sweeping bends, the track shown on contemporary ordnance survey maps, had four corners and four straights.
, opened in Thorne. Specialising in Business and Enterprise. The £24 million state of the art Academy has nine classes per year group, and an initial school population of 1250 children, between the ages of 11 – 18, and is the third Christian Ethos school founded by Sir Peter Vardy. In 2004, only 21 per cent of students from Thorne and Moorends achieved five or more passes at grade C or above. But Trinity has revolutionised education in the area and was named as England's most improved academy last year
The new Academy replaced Thorne Grammar School, a once notable provider of distinguished education, which boasts many famous alumni, including Lesley Garrett
; George Porter
, a nobel prize
-winning chemist; Charles Spencer, a renowned pianist; and Sir Graham Hall, former CEO of Yorkshire Electricity
.
and Thomas Crapper
. Former professional football
er Leigh Jenkinson
, who represented Wales
internationally, is from Thorne. Gillian Coultard
, former captain of England women's football team during the 1990s is also born and bred in Thorne. Simon Worrall
who plays for Leeds Rhinos after switching codes from rugby union, was born in Thorne.
Lesley Garrett
, operatic soprano, attended Thorne Grammar School and was reunited with the Thorne of her past in the BBC documentary series Who Do You Think You Are?.
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster
Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster
The Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster is a metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire in Yorkshire and the Humber Region of England.In addition to the town of Doncaster, the borough covers Mexborough, Conisbrough, Thorne and Finningley....
in South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
, 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 has a population of 16,592.
Geography
It lies east of the River Don, on the Stainforth and Keadby CanalStainforth and Keadby Canal
The Stainforth and Keadby Canal is a navigable canal in South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, England. It connects the River Don Navigation at Bramwith to the River Trent at Keadby, by way of Stainforth, Thorne and Ealand, near Crowle.-History:...
, and is located at approximately 53°36′30"N 0°57′30"W, at an elevation of around 5 metres above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
, on the 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...
side of the border with Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
. The civil parish of Thorne also takes in the village of Moorends
Moorends
Moorends is a village in the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster , on the border with Lincolnshire. It is part of the civil parish of Thorne, which lies to the south....
to the north.
The town is served by two railway stations: Thorne North
Thorne North railway station
Thorne North railway station is one of two stations serving the north of the town of Thorne in South Yorkshire, England. The station is north east of Doncaster on the Sheffield to Hull Line. The other station in the town is Thorne South for services towards Scunthorpe.-Service:Stopping services...
, and Thorne South
Thorne South railway station
Thorne South railway station is one of two stations serving the ex mining town of Thorne in South Yorkshire, England. The station is north of Doncaster on the Doncaster to Cleethorpes line...
; as well as Junction 6 of the M18 and junction 1 of the M180
M180 motorway
The M180 motorway is a short but major motorway in England from junction 5 on the M18 motorway in the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster to a point close to Humberside Airport some from the ports of Immingham and Grimsby and the east coast and provides access for major routes to Cleethorpes,...
. The A614
A614 road
The A614 is a main road in England running through the counties of Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire and the East Riding of Yorkshire.Beginning at Redhill, near Calverton in Nottinghamshire at a roundabout with the A60, the road meets the A6097 at a junction which looks like a roundabout but...
runs through the town, crossing the canal.
History
The land which is now Thorne was once inhabited by NeolithicNeolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
, Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
and Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
people. It became a permanent settlement around AD700, and is mentioned in 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...
.
The main industries in the town have traditionally been coal mining
Coal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
and farming, although many residents now commute to Doncaster
Doncaster
Doncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
.
Places of interest
Brass BandBrass band
A brass band is a musical ensemble generally consisting entirely of brass instruments, most often with a percussion section. Ensembles that include brass and woodwind instruments can in certain traditions also be termed brass bands , but are usually more correctly termed military bands, concert...
concerts are held in the park
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
during the summer months, which is also the location for the Thorne Memorial Park Miniature Railway
Thorne Memorial Park Miniature Railway
Thorne Memorial Park Miniature Railway is a gauge and miniature railway built in 1998 in Thorne, South Yorkshire operating on two loops within the park.-History:...
and the annual Thorne Festival. The area now has its very own Community Radio
Community radio
Community radio is a type of radio service, that offers a third model of radio broadcasting beyond commercial broadcasting and public broadcasting. Community stations can serve geographic communities and communities of interest...
station, TMCR 95.3.
Notable buildings in the town include the eleventh century parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
and the motte
Motte-and-bailey
A motte-and-bailey is a form of castle, with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised earthwork called a motte, accompanied by an enclosed courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch and palisade...
of Peel Hill Castle. Other attractions include the extensive Thorne Moors.
Landmarks
There are Dutch-like bridges over canals, such as the Wykewell bridge. There are two large water towers. The parish church is St Nicholas.Sport
Local rugby league side Moorends-Thorne Marauders RLFC play in the CMS Yorkshire leagueCMS Yorkshire league
The CMS Yorkshire League is a series of rugby league divisions in the traditional county of Yorkshire.The league is run by the British Amateur Rugby League Association...
during the winter season and the Rugby League Conference
Rugby League Conference
The Rugby League Conference , was a series of regionally based divisions of amateur rugby league teams spread throughout England, Scotland and Wales.The RLC was founded as the 10-team Southern Conference League in 1997, with teams from the southern midlands and the...
during the summer.
Thorne is also home to the rugby union side Thornensians RUFC who currently play in Yorkshire Division 3.
Speedway racing, then known as Dirt Track racing, was staged a track on the southern edge of the town in 1930. Billed as "The Wembley of the North" the track was a bit basic and followed the edge of the football pitch on the inside of the track. Rather than two sweeping bends, the track shown on contemporary ordnance survey maps, had four corners and four straights.
School
In September 2005 a newly built school, Trinity AcademyTrinity Academy, Thorne
Trinity Academy is a non-selective co-educational secondary school in the English Academy programme, at Thorne near Doncaster, South Yorkshire....
, opened in Thorne. Specialising in Business and Enterprise. The £24 million state of the art Academy has nine classes per year group, and an initial school population of 1250 children, between the ages of 11 – 18, and is the third Christian Ethos school founded by Sir Peter Vardy. In 2004, only 21 per cent of students from Thorne and Moorends achieved five or more passes at grade C or above. But Trinity has revolutionised education in the area and was named as England's most improved academy last year
The new Academy replaced Thorne Grammar School, a once notable provider of distinguished education, which boasts many famous alumni, including Lesley Garrett
Lesley Garrett
Lesley Garrett CBE is an English musician, broadcaster and media personality.- Early life :Garrett was born in the town of Thorne near Doncaster in South Yorkshire, into a musical family. She attended Thorne Grammar School, where she performed in school plays and musicals. As she grew up she...
; George Porter
George Porter
George Hornidge Porter, Baron Porter of Luddenham, OM, FRS was a British chemist.- Life :Porter was born in Stainforth, near Thorne, South Yorkshire. He was educated at Thorne Grammar School, then won a scholarship to the University of Leeds and gained his first degree in chemistry...
, a nobel prize
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
-winning chemist; Charles Spencer, a renowned pianist; and Sir Graham Hall, former CEO of Yorkshire Electricity
Yorkshire Electricity
Yorkshire Electricity was an electricity distribution utility in the UK serving much of Yorkshire and parts of Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.-History:...
.
Notable people
Notable people from Thorne include Roy ClarkeRoy Clarke
Roy Clarke OBE is an English comedy writer.-Career:Clarke is best known for creating BBC Sitcoms; Last of the Summer Wine, Open All Hours and Keeping Up Appearances...
and Thomas Crapper
Thomas Crapper
Thomas Crapper was a plumber who founded Thomas Crapper & Co. in London. Contrary to widespread misconceptions, Crapper did not invent the flush toilet. He did, however, do much to increase the popularity of the toilet, and developed some important related inventions, such as the ballcock...
. Former professional football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
er Leigh Jenkinson
Leigh Jenkinson
Leigh Jenkinson is an English-born Welsh former professional footballer.Jenkinson, who played on the left wing, began his career with Hull City in 1987 and remained at Boothferry Park for six years, making over 130 league appearances for the Yorkshire club...
, who represented Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
internationally, is from Thorne. Gillian Coultard
Gillian Coultard
Gillian Coultard is a retired English football player, and former England captain. She is England Women's most capped international, with 119 appearances; she is also the highest capped outfield England international ever, with only goalkeeper Peter Shilton gaining more with 125...
, former captain of England women's football team during the 1990s is also born and bred in Thorne. Simon Worrall
Simon Worrall
Simon Worrall is an English rugby league footballer for Toulouse Olympique in the Co-operative Championship he previsouly played for Leeds Rhinos and rugby union for Leeds Carnegie.His usual position is second row or at loose-forward....
who plays for Leeds Rhinos after switching codes from rugby union, was born in Thorne.
Lesley Garrett
Lesley Garrett
Lesley Garrett CBE is an English musician, broadcaster and media personality.- Early life :Garrett was born in the town of Thorne near Doncaster in South Yorkshire, into a musical family. She attended Thorne Grammar School, where she performed in school plays and musicals. As she grew up she...
, operatic soprano, attended Thorne Grammar School and was reunited with the Thorne of her past in the BBC documentary series Who Do You Think You Are?.
External links
- Thorne and Moorends Town Council
- TMCR FM Community Radio, TMCR 95.3 Covering north-east Doncaster from a base in Thorne.
- Friends of Buntings Wood, adopt a tree on this restoration site.
- Thorne Memorial Park Miniature Railway Open most Sundays, check the site for details..
- Waterstart, a waterways based training and recreational facility based at Thorne
- The Bungalow Project, Moorends Drug Awareness and Support Group
- 750 (Thorne) Squadron Air Training Corps, Thorne's Air Cadet Squadron