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Thornton-le-Dale

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Thornton-le-Dale (also called Thornton Dale) is a village and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England, about 3 miles (5 km) east of Pickering on the edge of the North York Moors National Park. The area of the village encompasses 39.2 square kilometres.[2]

Thornton-le-Dale
A traditional cottage, known as Beck Isle Cottage
Thornton-le-Dale is located in North Yorkshire
Thornton-le-Dale
Thornton-le-Dale
Location within North Yorkshire
Population1,759 (2011 Census)[1]
OS grid referenceSE834830
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townPICKERING
Postcode districtYO18
Dialling code01751
PoliceNorth Yorkshire
FireNorth Yorkshire
AmbulanceYorkshire
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Yorkshire
54°14′12″N 0°43′19″W / 54.23678°N 0.72183°W / 54.23678; -0.72183

A thatched building, called Beck Isle or Thatched Cottage and Grade II listed, was built in the 17th century and modified/extended in the 20th.[3] The building has appeared on countless calendars and chocolate boxes over the years. A new thatched roof was installed in 2014.[4] A stream, the Thornton Beck, meanders along the streets and is crossed by several bridges. Much of the village was designated as a Conservation Area by the North York Moors Park Authority in 1977.[5] Thornton-le-Dale is often regarded as one of the prettiest villages in Yorkshire.[6][7]

The village lies on the A170 road from Thirsk to Scarborough within the National Park. The route of The White Rose Way, a long-distance walk from Leeds to Scarborough, also passes through.

History

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The area has been inhabited since at least the Neolithic era. A burial cart discovered nearby, at Pexton Moor, is estimated to have been made in 300 BC.[8] The name of the village is thought to have been given by the Angles who settled here circa AD 500–540, after conquering the locals.[9] An etymology report suggests that the name Thornton derives from the Old English lemmas þorn and tūn, "town of thorn bushes".[10]

Prior to the Norman Conquest, the area was under the rule of Saxon lords.[11] In the Domesday Book of 1086, the settlement, with a population of 30, appears in three entries; it was then known as Torentune. Other nearby small settlements included Roxby, Farmanby, Thornton, Ellerburn and Leidtorp; four of these eventually joined to become the village.[12] In 1066, the Lord was Earl Morcar and by 1086, the Crown (King William) owned this area;[13] it was later transferred to Count Odo and his wife. By 1281, a Manor was built here, owned by John De Easton.[9] In 1661, the owner was the Hill family; they built a new manor on the site of the old one.[14] A 1921 report indicated the owner as Captain Richard Hill.[15] Known as The Hall, and Grade II listed, the manor is now a residential care home for the elderly. The building's origins are stated as 17th century, "probably with earlier origins".[16][17]

 
Thornton Mill and Mill House (2007 photo

There was a mill on Thornton Beck from at least 1200; the current mill was built in the 18th century and enlarged in 1919, when it was renamed Victory Mill.[9] For nearly a century, the Burgess animal feed company has owned the mill, initially using it for manufacturing its products, and later as offices.[18] By 2003, the building had been restored.[19] As early as 1277, there was also a mill at Ellerburn. Weaving was a common industry from the 14th to the 18th century. The beck was diverted in the 19th century when a large mill complex with sluice gates was built.[20]

In the Middle Ages, Roxby, just west of the village, was a separate manor, which fell into the hands of the Cholmeley family in 1499.[21] Sir Hugh Cholmeley, 1st Baronet, was born at Roxby Castle, then known as Thorton-on-the-Hill.[22] The remains on Roxby Hill are a Scheduled Ancient Monument although none of the buildings remain.[23][24] The area is also Grade II listed as "ridge and furrow earthworks [and] cultivation strips".[23]

Richard Rolle, the English hermit mystic, was probably born in Thornton-le-Dale in the 1300s. He authored many books on religious topics.[25]

 
All Saints' church

All Saints' Church, Grade II listed, is centuries old and was altered several times: entirely rebuilt in the 14th century, though some earlier aspects still remain, and modified in 1681 and 1865.[26] The existing copy of the church register includes listings as far back as 1538.[15] Comber House, the former rectory on Church Hill, designed c. 1840 by J. P. Prichett, is also Grade II listed.[27]

St Hilda's Church, Grade II* listed, is in the tiny village of Ellerburn which is part of Thornton-le-Dale. The original building dates to the early Norman period, and according to some sources, to the Saxon era, as early as 850 or 1050. It was restored and modified in 1904–1905 and in 1911.[24][28] Today, there are a few other churches in or near Thornton-le-Dale.[29]

 
Historic buildings

In 1657,[30] builders were given orders to erect 12 almshouses and a school, thanks to an endowment left by Elizabeth, Viscountess Lumley who had died earlier that year;[31] her family had owned much of the land in the area.[32] The buildings, between the village green and the bridge, completed in 1670,[33] are supported by the Lady Lumley's Almshouse Trust. The 12 bungalows were restored in the 19th century, and in 2014, a major renovation was completed by the Trust on the Grade II listed buildings.[34] They have been inhabited for some time as age-specific housing.[35] Beck Isle (Thatched) Cottage was also built in the 1600s but was "raised, renovated and extended" in the 20th century.[36] A book published in 2012 included photos of the Thatched Cottage circa 1920's, and stated that in that era, the building was covered in plaster and had significantly fewer windows.[33] As of 2021, the cottage was identified as a freehold private residence.[37]

The Old Grammar School had space for 200 students but had only 16 as of 1980;[38] the building remained in use as a school until the 20th century; it is now used for other purposes.[39] Another school, the Lady Lumley's School in nearby Pickering, is still in use, as a coeducational secondary school and sixth form. The only current school in Thornton Dale is the CE School school, with 133 students in 2018, operated by the Church of England.[40]

In 1801, the population was 1,041. By 1831, it had increased to 1,368.[41]

The village used to have a railway station on the Forge Valley Line between Seamer and Pickering. The trains first arrived in 1839 but the Pickering-Scarborough branch was not completed here until 1882. Some agricultural workers left the area on the train, seeking paid jobs elsewhere.[42] The Thornton Dale railway station opened in 1882 and closed to passengers in 1950, with a freight train from a quarry in the village continuing to use the tracks until 1964.[43] After being used for several purposes, including offices and a caravan park, the station was converted into three holiday rental cottages.[44]

It was in 1907 that the village was first deemed as the "prettiest" in Yorkshire; voters in this poll were the readers of a newspaper.[45] By that time, the village was considered to be a tourist hotspot.[46]

Governance

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The parish was part of the Ryedale district from 1974 to 2023, and part of the electoral ward of Thornton Dale, which extended beyond the boundaries of the Parish with a total population of 3,256 at the 2011 census.[47]

The parish is in the Thornton Dale and the Wolds electoral division of the unitary authority of North Yorkshire Council.[48]

The parish council is Thornton le Dale; the council has seven members and meets monthly at the Hill Memorial Institute. Meetings are open to the public.[49]

Tourism

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Shops in the Square, in an area known as The Forge

The tourist era in this area was underway by the early 1900s and in 1907, Thornton-le-Dale was named Yorkshire's Prettiest Village in a newspaper poll; it remains popular with tourists.[50] Such visitors fuel the economy, with many visiting the very quaint village with its ancient market cross, stocks on the small village green and small beck (stream). There are several cafes and pubs, as well as a seasonal tea room and many shops. Nearby, Dalby Forest offers paths for walking, cycling and nature-watching. The Information Point can provide visitors with a pamphlet providing specifics as to other walks from the village,[51] including one to the tiny hamlet of Ellerburn.[52]

 
North Yorkshire Motor Museum in 2007

The village has a large car park area and is also served by buses such as the Coastliner's route 840 (Leeds to Whitby) and Route 128 on the East Yorkshire service.[53]

A regular attraction is the Motor Museum, owned by D. T. Mathewson, which exhibits a collection of classic and vintage cars from 1918 to 1976. The Mathewsons run a car and automobilia sales auction,[54][55] which has also been regularly shown in a series called Bangers & Cash made for the Yesterday TV channel,[56] with a spin-off series featuring Derek, Paul and Dave Mathewson named Restoring Classics.[57] Even earlier, in 1906, there was a display of "vintage vehicles" at a garage in the village.[46]

Another attraction, Go Ape Dalby, provides zip lining opportunities in the Dalby Forest.[58] The North Yorkshire Moors Railway in nearby Pickering offers rides on a steam or heritage diesel train on one of the historic lines in the area and is known to television viewers as the heritage line featured in Channel 5's The Yorkshire Steam Railway: All Aboard.[59][60][61] The Beck Isle Museum features displays of historic sets and objects.[62][63]

Stage Three of the 2018 Tour de Yorkshire started in Richmond and finished in Scarborough. The cyclists travelled through Thornton-le-Dale.[64][65]

Annual events

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On the first Saturday in December, the Village Lights Committee (all volunteers) stage the annual Christmas lights 'Switch On'.[66] This is the culmination of a whole year's work of raising money and putting up the lights around the village.

Events scheduled for 2018 included the Spring Gala in May, the traditional rural Thornton Show and the Flower, Scarecrow Festival and Produce Show in August as well as the Harvest Festivals in September.[67]

In August, most years, the Thornton Show and the Scarecrow Festival are held.[68] The Thornton le Dale players, formed in the 1940s, puts on plays in spring and summer, with a major production usually held in November at the village hall.[69]

References

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  1. ^ UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Thornton-le-Dale Parish (1170217305)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  2. ^ "Thornton-le-Dale (Parish, United Kingdom) – Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location". citypopulation.info. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  3. ^ Historic England. "Beck Isle Cottage the Thatched Cottage (1074185)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  4. ^ "Iconic chocolate-box cottage undergoes crucial refresh". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  5. ^ TLDCACA 2017, p. 9.
  6. ^ "Top 10 Prettiest Villages in Yorkshire". Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  7. ^ "The 7 Most Beautiful Villages To Visit In North Yorkshire". Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  8. ^ Kirk, J. L. (1912). "The Opening of a Tumulus near Pickering". Annual Report of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society for 1911: 57–62.
  9. ^ a b c "A Peek Into The Past". Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  10. ^ "Parish place-names of the North Riding of Yorkshire". Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  11. ^ Thornton-le-Dale Through Time, Introduction. Amberley Publishing Limited. 15 April 2012. ISBN 9781445631707. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  12. ^ TLDCACA 2017, p. 12.
  13. ^ Powell-Smith, Anna. "Thornton [Dale] – Domesday Book". opendomesday.org. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  14. ^ "History". www.thorntonledale.com. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  15. ^ a b "Parishes: Thornton Dale – British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  16. ^ Historic England. "The Hall (1241248)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  17. ^ "The Hall Residential Care Home". www.carehome.co.uk. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  18. ^ "Our strong family values and traditions are core to the Burgess story". Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  19. ^ "Victory Mill project shortlisted for award". Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  20. ^ TLDCACA 2017, pp. 13, 15.
  21. ^ Page, William, ed. (1914). "Parishes: Thornton Dale". Victoria County History. A History of the County of York North Riding: Volume 2. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  22. ^ Fry, Alison (1999). Learning from the English Mystics. ISBN 1-85174-395-2.
  23. ^ a b Historic England. "Roxby Hill manorial complex and associated ridge and furrow earthworks, Thornton-le-Dale (1021270)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  24. ^ a b "A peek into the past – Thornton-le-Dale, North Yorkshire". www.visitthorntonledale.co.uk. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  25. ^ "St Laurence's Church". www.adwick-st-laurence.co.uk. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  26. ^ TLDCACA 2017, p. 13.
  27. ^ Historic England. "Comber House (1241245)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  28. ^ "St Hilda's Church Ellerburn – Thornton-le-Dale, North Yorkshire". www.visitthorntonledale.co.uk. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  29. ^ "Churches – Thornton-le-Dale, North Yorkshire". www.visitthorntonledale.co.uk. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  30. ^ "Parishes: Thornton Dale Pages 492–497, A History of the County of York North Riding: Volume 2, Almshouses". Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  31. ^ "Lady Lumley's Ryedale bequest". BBC News. 27 November 2009. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  32. ^ "Lady Lumley's Almshouses,... (C) Christine Matthews". www.geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  33. ^ a b Thornton-le-Dale Through Time. Amberley Publishing Limited. 15 April 2012. ISBN 9781445631707. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  34. ^ Historic England. "LADY LUMLEY'S ALMSHOUSES (1074192)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  35. ^ "Lady Lumley Almshouses Trust – Thornton-le-Dale, North Yorkshire". www.visitthorntonledale.co.uk. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  36. ^ "Beck Isle Cottage the Thatched Cottage". Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  37. ^ "The Chocolate Box Cottage That Looks Straight Out Of A Fairytale". Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  38. ^ "Thornton-le-Dale, Yorkshire". Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  39. ^ "HousingCare.org – Lady Lumley's Almshouses – 1–12 Chestnut Avenue, Thornton le Dale, Pickering, North Yorkshire, YO18 7RP – Amenity housing, unsupported housing for older people". Housingcare.Org. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  40. ^ "Thornton Dale CE School – Thornton-le-Dale, North Yorkshire". www.visitthorntonledale.co.uk. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  41. ^ "The Parliamentary Gazetteer of England and Wales: Adapted to the New Poor-law, Franchise, Municipal and Ecclesiastical Arrangements, and Comp. with a Special Reference to the Lines of Railroad and Canal Communication, as Existing in 1840–1844. Illustrated by a Series of Maps Forming a Complete County-atlas of England, and by Four Large Maps of Wales. With an Appendix Containing the Results, in Detail, of the Census of 1841". A. Fullarton and Company. 3 July 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2018 – via Google Books.
  42. ^ TLDCACA 2017, p. 16.
  43. ^ Suggitt, Gordon (2005). Lost railways of North and East Yorkshire. Newbury: Countryside Books. p. 96. ISBN 978-1-85306-918-5.
  44. ^ "Station House Holiday Cottages – Thornton-le-Dale, North Yorkshire". www.visitthorntonledale.co.uk. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  45. ^ Thornton-le-Dale Through Time, Yorkshire's Prettiest Village. Amberley Publishing Limited. 15 April 2012. ISBN 9781445631707. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  46. ^ a b Thornton-le-Dale Through Time, A Day Out to the Country. Amberley Publishing Limited. 15 April 2012. ISBN 9781445631707. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  47. ^ UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Thornton Dale 2011 Census Ward (1237325167)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  48. ^ "Find Councillor". North Yorkshire Council. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  49. ^ "Welcome – Thornton-le-Dale, North Yorkshire". www.visitthorntonledale.co.uk. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  50. ^ "Thornton-le-Dale Through Time". www.amberley-books.com. Amberley Publishing. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  51. ^ "Thornton-le-Dale and Ellerburn" (PDF). providerfiles.thedms.co.uk. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  52. ^ "Thornton le Dale: North York Moors National Park". Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  53. ^ "Getting Around". Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  54. ^ "Uktv Order Bangers & Cash Spin-Off Series". 20 October 2021.
  55. ^ "Home". mathewsons.co.uk.
  56. ^ "Bangers and Cash | Yesterday Channel".
  57. ^ "Motor Museum – Thornton-le-Dale, North Yorkshire". www.visitthorntonledale.co.uk. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  58. ^ Bryan, Hannah (31 March 2017). "Days Out: Go Ape, Dalby Forest, North Yorkshire". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  59. ^ "The Yorkshire Steam Railway: All Aboard: Season 3".
  60. ^ "My5".
  61. ^ "The Yorkshire Steam Railway: All Aboard TV Show".
  62. ^ "£9million improvement scheme for North York Moors Railway approved". The Yorkshire Post. 21 February 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  63. ^ Darley, Karen (14 February 2018). "Season launches at Pickering's Beck Isle Museum". Gazette & Herald. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  64. ^ "TOUR DE YORKSHIRE: When and where you can see the race in Ryedale". Gazette & Herald. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  65. ^ "Tour de Yorkshire times 2018 – Thirsk Tourist Information". www.visitthirsk.org.uk. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  66. ^ "The Village of Thornton le Dale". www.ryedale.co.uk. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  67. ^ "Calendar – Thornton-le-Dale, North Yorkshire". www.visitthorntonledale.co.uk. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  68. ^ "Calendar of Events". Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  69. ^ "Calendar of Events". Retrieved 14 March 2021.

Sources

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  Media related to Thornton-le-Dale at Wikimedia Commons

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