All About Thornton

There are many Thorntons

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Ours was the birthplace of the world-famous Brontë sisters.

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 textie 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 2,700 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 teminus to Bradford Broadway, and the 67 bus from Keighley to Bradford Interchage via Thornton.