The Brontë Birthplace, 72 – 74 Market Street, Thornton, Bradford, BD13 3HF
Current arts related exhibitions
There are two galleries in Thornton devoted to all forms of art, South Square which is run by a registered charity, the Thornton and Allerton Community Association, plus Fountain Street Arts Project.
All links to further details, or other websites are in green, and normally underlined.
Previews / Openings, and the first and last days of all exhibitions will also be shown in the Diary of Events. Details of the exhibitions are shown on this page.
Please report any errors or omissions to aaboutthornton@gmail.com or you can comment on the associated Facebook page.
Fountain Street Project
March to April Another World Is Possible Art and Connection in uncertain times. Launch event Friday 27 February 5pm to 9pm (Music, Drinks and Workshop). Sunday Social, 29 March, 2pm to 4.30pm with music from Cactusville
2 Fountain Street, Thornton, BD13 3EW
Ring o’ Bells
South Square
Following a period of dereliction, in 1982, Thornton and Allerton Community Association Ltd was formed and pioneered the building’s restoration in partnership with Bradford Metropolitan District Council, the West Yorkshire Metropolitan County Council, and the Manpower Services Commission. The terraced housing was transformed by knocking through the cottages to form bigger rooms for galleries and community spaces. The centre opened in 1982 as South Square Centre, and was formally opened in 1984 by the Lord Mayor, Olive Messer.
South Square is based within a Grade II listed building originally built as a courtyard of workers’ cottages in 1832 in Thornton,
South Square has a Facebook page. Included in the Square are artists’ studios and workshops, Thornton Antiquarian Society’s Archive, a vegetarian and vegan cafe called Plenty at the Square, and a small public house, The Watchmaker, named after Harry Naylor, watchmaker, who had his workshop where the public house is. He served as an Armourer during the 1st World War, serving in France until 25 March 1919, and died in 1920, his death 100% attributable to his war service His details are shown in the WW1 biographies here.
South Square Exhibitions
Opening hours of South Square galleries: Tues – Sat 10.30am – 3pm, Sun 12pm – 3pm, Mondays closed.
6 February to 14 April 2026 Sowing Connections: A co-created community exhibition celebrating the work of the Rasi // Twine Women’s Group in Bradford.
3 April to 31 May 2026 Where are you from originally? Further details here.
3 April to 24 May Townscapes by Caroline Rilatt. An exhibition of captivating detailed drawings of local townscapes.
See also Friends of the Square and Best Friends of the Square,
Normal opening hours of The Watchmaker: Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4pm to 9pm, Fridays from 4pm to 10pm, Saturdays from 3pm to 10pm, and Sundays from 3pm to 8pm
(last updated 7 February 2026)
All About Thornton 