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.

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 (updated 13 November 2023)

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 Class 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)

Mums and Baby Group at South Square, Free drop-in group to meet” other mums and babies”. Thursdays between 10am and 12 noon. Orgaqnised by Gemma Marsden Updated Mach 2024)

St. James’ Fellowship Group       Meets on 1st and 3rd Mondays each month, at at 2pm in the Church Hall.  Has interesting speakers and refreshments.  (Updated 23 February 2023)

Sapgate Gardens Association was set up after local residents in Thornton came together to create a community garden.  They also have a Facebook page. Their events will be included in the Diary of events. (updated 13 November 2023) 

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 play in Division One of the Haslem-Sheppard Halifax and District AF League. In their first season, in 2021/2 they were top of Division 2. In the 2022/3 season there were fewer clubs playing, causing the droppping of Division 2. Thornton came 4th out of 11 clubs, in Division 1, that season. In the current 2023/4 season, there are 9 clubs in Division 1. Home fixtures are shown in the Diary of Events. (Updated 20 August 2023)

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 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, and finish the 2023 top of the division, out of 12 teams, 35 points ahead of the 2nd team in the Premier Division, unbeaten this 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.
• The 2nd XI play in the First Division 2nd XIs, on Saturdays, and finished 3rd out of 8 teams in 2023; 4th out of 8 teams in 2022.
• The 3rd team play on Sundays, in Sunday Division 4. They came 6th out of 7 clubs in 2023.

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 account.

Champions of the top division, the Premier division of the Halifax Cricket League, 2023 season.

In the current season, 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

(Photo copyright of Halifax Cricket League)

(Updated 16 September 2023)

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 Junior Chess Club meet at Thornton Community Centre.

Thornton Methodist Church Fellowship Group  Meets on some Tuesday afternoons at 2pm in the Church Hall.  Has interesting speakers and refreshments.   (Updated June 28, 2016)

Thornton Singers    (Updated 10 January 2021)

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 current 2020/21 season. the following teams play in the Craven, Aire and Wharfe Junior League,   Under 16 (group A), Under 15 (Group B), Under 14 (Group D), Under 12  Lightning(Group B), Under 12 Thunder (Group E), Under 11, Under 10, Under 9, Under 8, and under7.  For club contacts see their Facebook page.   (Updated 10 January 2021)

Thornton Veterans Crown Green Bowling Club  Play in the Bradford Veterans’  Crown Green Bowling League, from April to September.   They also have teams in 2 divisions of the Monday evening league -Thornton A and Thornton B in the Carter’s Sports and Dunne’s divisions, and a team in the Wednesday afternoon league, Division 3 (Peter Gilroy – name of the Division).   Their Home games are played at Thornton Bowling Green up Wensley Bank West.   For further details contact (Updated June 28, 2106)

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     Bradford Council’s Adult Services who run the Older Peoples Mental Health Programme has provided funding so that Thornton gets its very own Wellbeing 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 will provide a free service which includes coffee, tea, cakes and biscuits. There will be speakers from local agencies such as Age Concern, Alzheimer’s Society etc. Entertainment will be provided at each session.  Further details call Kathryn Halford on 01274 816748, or emailqpinfo@qbury.com .  (Updated 9 November 2023)

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

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. The bootcamps group hold bootcamps. (Updated 9 November 2023)