All About Thornton

All links are in Green and are underlined

These groups are also included in Groups and events by type

Groups are listed in alphabetical order on this page with links in green for further details. 

If you can add to the information we have, or require further details of any of the groups please contact aaboutthornton@gmail.com

The inclusion of any group should not be taken as an endorsement of any group.

Board in the Village is a Bradford based board game community who meet on Wednesdays at 7pm at the Hebrews Cafe, St. James Church Hall, Thornton. What appear to be complex board games for adults. See their Facebook page and photos. Contact is Jamie2000_uk@yahoo.co.uk (Updated 27 January 2025)

Bradford Fencing Club  The club is not based in Thornton but it meets at Thornton Recreation Centre on Tuesdays between 8.30pm and 9.30pm.  It occasionally holds beginners courses.  They also have a Facebook page  (updated 10 November 2023)

Brontë Bell Chapel Action Group  Brontë Bell Chapel goes back over 400 years and has a wealth of local history, also a Brontë connection as this is the place where Patrick Brontë was Minister from 1815-1820 and Charlotte, Emily, Anne and Patrick Branwell were christened. Thornton is the Birthplace of the famous Literary figures. The Old Bell Chapel Action Group meet every Saturday morning to maintain the graveyard and rebuild the damaged graves. We have a wilderness corner, a bat box programme a bird nesting box system and we recycle our leaf mulch for the bedding plants.  Open all year round and volunteers always welcome.  If you have been inspired by the work the Action Group does in maintaining and improving the grounds, We would love to hear from you. We meet at the Bell Chapel every Saturday from 10am to 12noon. No gardening or DIY experience required, just a willingness to get involved. Under 18s are welcome when accompanied by an adult. So dig out your wellies and come and get involved, as little or as often as you can. The Group also have a website.  (Updated 10 November 2023)

Brontë Birthplace Community Ownership Campaign (updated 15 September 2023)

Brownies, Rainbows, Guides, and Rangers:  For information on all Girl Guiding Groups in the area see the national Girlguiding Association website.  The Girlguiding Association also has a website covering North-East England, including Yorkshire here.  We know of one Brownie pack in Thornton, (Updated 10 November 2023)

Craft Club      Meets at Thornton Methodist Church every Wednesday from 2pm to 4pm.  Bring your own craft or start a new one.  (Updated 10 October 2022)

Friends of Ally Cats, volunteer-led Cat Rescue in Thornton. They raise money for cat-food, day-to-day care of around 50 cats, and vets’ bills, through quarterly “Fairs” at Thornton Community Centre and by Ally Cats Auction/Selling site. (Updated 7 November 2023)

Friends of the Square and Best Friends of the Square, South Square. (Updated 13 November 2023)

Great Northern Railway Trail It has volunteer Tidy-Up teams on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month, from 10amdates are in the Diary of Events. Please notify them if you can help on any of these dates. (updated 10 March 2025)

Headley Golf Club    (Updated 10 November 2023)

Happy Healthy Community Group    We are a group of local volunteers aiming to increase community spirit, promote friendship and confidence. Come and join us for a chat, a free brew and biscuits and a variety of activities at Thornton Community Centre every Tuesday from 10:30 to 11:30 or contact us at ThorntonHHC@outlook.com (Updated 2 October 2022)

Kids Art Club at Thornton Community Centre, Wednesdays 3.30pm to 4.40pm, ages 3 to 6, and 7 to 12. Contact Cathy on 07504 095398.

Knit and Natter at South Square. Bring your own knitting or crochet projects and enjoy friendly chit chat over a hot or cold drink. Downstairs gallery. From 9.30am on Wednesday mornings. (Updated 3 February 2022)

Litter Picking Group. Now organised by Sapgate Gardens Association in co-operation with Thornton Community Centre. 1st Saturday of the month from the Community Centre. See each month’s Diary of Events for further details. (Updated 13 November 2023)

Ring o’ Bells Strummers Meet at the Ring o’ Bells at 1pm 3pm every Tuesday. Have a Facebook Group – press click on their name. “This is a group for fellow Uke players to sit, have a chat and a sing along in a relaxing environment.  Come along and join in with our Ukulele strumming sessions on a Tuesday afternoon at Ring O’ Bells, 212 Hill Top Road, Thornton, Bradford BD13 3QL between 1pm & 3pm.“

Scouts: 60th Bradford North Scout Group, Thornton. (Updated 13 November 2023)

South Square Centre

TCCFC is a football club which plays on the football pitch close to Thornton Cricket Club.

They have played in Division One of the Haslem-Sheppard Halifax and District AF League. In the 2024/25 season they came at the top of Division 1, and were awarded the Divisional Cup. They played 2 games in the Premier Division in 2025/6, but appear not to have continued to play in that league. Home fixtures are shown in the Diary of Events. Contact email: tccfc20@gmail.com (3 November 2025)

Thornton After-School Club

Thornton & Denholme Practice Champions at Thornton Community Centre   We sit and chat over a cuppa and cakes. Some of our members may paint, sew, knit, or craft. Whatever you wish to turn your hand to there is always one of us who can give advice, if needed, but it’s fine if you just want a cuppa and a chat. We also work together on group projects chosen from a range of crafts. You may wish to join in with these, or just observe if you prefer. Most of the materials are provided and the finished items may find their way onto our gift table at one of our Charity Coffee mornings or take pride of place in your home. Contact Thornton Medical Centre on 01274 832110 for more information.

Thornton Antiquarian Society (Updated 21 June 2023)

Thornton Bereavement Group meet from 2pm to 4pm on the 1st Thursday of the month at Thornton Community Centre. (Updated 5 March 2025.)

Thornton Community Choir

Thornton Cricket Club   The Cricket Field is on Hill Top Road.  There are 3 adult teams which all play in the Halifax Cricket League, and several active Junior Teams:

• The First XI  play in the Premier Division 1st XI, on Saturdays.
• In the 2024 season the First XI, once again, became Champions of the Premier Division 1st XIs, and won the Parish Cup
• In 2023 they finished top of the division, out of 12 teams, 35 points ahead of the 2nd team in the Premier Division, unbeaten that year, and have also won the T20 Cup and the Parish Cup. This is the first time any team has won the treble. In 2022 they ended 5th in the Premier League. In August 2024 they beat Illingworth St. Mary’s CC by 7 wickets in the Parish Cup Final. See photo below. (photo copyright © of Halifax Cricket League.
• The 2nd XI play in the First Division 2nd XIs, on Saturdays.
• In 2024 season they finished 3rd of 8 teams.
• In 2023, they finished 3rd out of 8 teams; they were 4th out of 8 teams in 2022.
• The 3rd team play on Sundays, in Sunday Division 4.
• In 2024 they came 2nd of 9 teams and will be promoted to the 3rd Sunday Division for the 2025 season.
• In 2023 they came 6th out of 7 clubs in 2023.

2024 First XI Champions. ©Photo copyright of Halifax Cricket League

The Junior teams playing in the Halifax Junior Cricket League this year are:

• Under 9s
• Under 11s,
• Under 13s
• Under 15s
• Under 18s

All home adult fixtures will be in the Diary of Events section of this website.  Thornton CC also have a Twitter/X account.

In 2023, Thornton won the Halifax Cricket League’s T20 Final on 30th July. The photo shows Thornton in their T20 strip.

(Photo copyright of Halifax Cricket League)

They won the Parish Cup by beating Illingworth St. Mary’s by 16 runs on 13 August 2023, and in the 2024 final of the Parish Cup they beat Illingworth St Mary’s by 7 wickets – Illingworth were 182 for 7 wickets in their allotted 45 overs; Thornton were 186 for 3, in fewer overs.

(Photo copyright of Halifax Cricket League)

(Updated 15 September 2024)

Thornton Goes Wild (School Wood),  originally a Thornton Community Partnership project, to improve the wood either side of the Great Northern Trail from the west of Thornton  School Playing Fields.  Thornton Community Partnership has disbanded, but one former member continues to feed the birds and put up bird boxes.  Thornton Community Centre volunteers have now taken over this work. (updated 8 January 2023)

Thornton in Bloom Thornton in Bloom is a community group bringing together people who are keen to improve the local environment. “We participate every year in the Royal Horticultural Society’s Yorkshire in Bloom competition focusing on three key aspects: horticultural achievement, environmental responsibility and community participation. All are welcome to join our team of volunteers to make our village more beautiful. We keep public gardens tidy, create new flower beds and containers, plant trees and hedges, litter pick, and generally tidy up the neighbourhood, including work to improve the appearance of neglected buildings.” See poster for volunteer work sessions or press / click on the Thornton in Bloom header in Green. They now have a Facebook Group with full details of their activities.

Thornton Junior Chess Club meet at Thornton Community Centre on Wednesdays.

Thornton Rangers Junior Football Club had teams last season at Under 11 and Under 15, and play in the Craven, Aire and Wharfe Junior Football League Thornton Rangers have a Facebook page (Updated 29 July 2024)

Thornton Remembrance Day Event volunteers. Meet once a month on a Wednesday at Thornton Community Centre. The Thornton Remembrance volunteers are looking to raise funds to ensure the 2025 Remembrance Day event happens. Volunteers plan and run the event however, funds are needed for things such as public liability insurance. (Updated 15 March 2025)

Thornton Singers    (Updated 13 February 2025)

Thornton United Junior Football Club   They play in the Craven, Aire and Wharfe Junior League, and their home ground is at St. John’s School, Bradford Road, Clayton, BD14 6DD.  In the last 2023/24 season. there were teams, of the following age ranges, playing in many of the divisions of the Craven, Aire and Wharfe Junior League,   Thornton United Under 18, U15, U14, U13, U12, U11, U10, U9, U8, and U7.   For club contacts see their Facebook page.   (Updated 29 July 2024)

Thornton Veterans Bowling Club  Play in the Bradford Crown Green Bowling League, from April to September.   They play in Division 3 (Peter Gilroy – the name of the Division), of the Bradford Half Holiday League, on Wednesdays, normally at 1.30pm; in the Monday evening division, in Division 3 (City Sports) at either 6.30pm or 7pm; and in Division 4 of Bradford Veterans League. All their home matches are being put in the Diary of Events. For further details contact sec.thornton22@gmail.com or landline 01274 835192 (answering machine) (Updated 7 September 2025)

Thornton Walking Group. Walking Group, Organised by Thornton and Denholme Practice Health Champions. (weekly). Led by one of the group who is fully trained. The walking routes are planned as a gentle exercise, and explore the Great Northern Railway Trail. (Updated 18 August 2022)

Thornton Well-Being Café     For local people over the age of 55.  Meets on the 3rd Friday of each month at 1.30pm to 3.30pm at Thornton Community Centre. The cafe is intended to help older people with mild to moderate mental health issues and for those people who are isolated, lonely and becoming a little depressed. Carers, spouse or a friend are encouraged to come along and join in.  The cafe provides …tea, coffee, cakes, biscuits, raffle ticket and entertainment all for just £5 per person. No need to book, you can just turn up. Ring 01274 816748 for more details, or emailqpinfo@qbury.com .  (Updated 9 October 2024)

Top Royd Allotments Association , 23 Royd Street, Thornton, BRADFORD, BD13 3PR Association for allotment holders at Top Royd Street Allotments.   (Updated 14 May, 2021)

Ukelele strum group. Every Tuesday 1pm to 3pm at the Rock and Heifer. All welcome. This is a group for fellow Uke players to sit, have a chat and a sing along in a relaxing environment. (Updated 22 April 2025)

Women on the run bootcamps, Thornton. It appears that this is the new name of Womenontherun Thornton. They used to run, jog, walk on Tuesday evenings but their Facebook page has disappeared. They now hold bootcamps. See illustration. Their next session starts on September 11 2024.(Updated 12 August 2024)