The compiler of this website wishes all who view it a Happy Christmas, with best wishes for good health in the years ahead.

If you cannot see a menu above the photo of the Viaduct, please press the equals sign, = at the top of the page, on the right above the blue sky, for the menu.

There are many Thorntons

Ours was the birthplace of the world-famous Brontë sisters. This website is about Thornton today, but gives information about some aspects of 19th century and earlier history from original sources. I am compiling a page about Thornton at the the of the Brontës.

Thornton expanded rapidly in the 19th and early 20th centuries due to agriculture, following enclosures in the 18th century, coal mining, stone quarrying and textiles. The last coal mine closed in the 1950s, the last textile mill in 2002, the farms are fewer in number and there are no active quarries in Thornton, but there is one on the Denholme civil parish side of Ten Yards Lane, which Lane is one boundary between the Thornton and Denholme civil parishes.

The background illustration is of Thornton Viaduct which carried the railway over Pinch Beck valley. The viaduct is part of a footpath and bridleway running from the former Queensbury Station to west of School Wood. The viaduct cannot be seen from Thornton Road, but the access to it is on Thornton Road on the village side of the primary school.

There are approximately 2,800 households in the current Thornton civil parish.

Thornton is on the B6145 between Bradford and the A629. Public transport is via the 607 bus from Thornton terminus to Bradford, and the 67 bus from Keighley to Bradford, via Cross Roads, Cullingworth, Denholme and Thornton. Both buses terminate at the Bradford Interchange. The buses depart from Bradford Interchange to Thornton as follows – 607 to Thornton – normally stand P, stand number 45030018, except for the following journeys – Mon-Fri 0721, 1129 & Sat 1331, 1628, 1730 journeys which depart from stand S, stand number 45030021 . 67 to Keighley, via Thornton, normally from stand P, stand number 45030018, except for the following journeys Mon-Fri 1230, 1330, 1430 journeys which depart from stand Q, stand number 45030019