Thornton, Lancashire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Thornton |
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 Marsh Mill, on Fleetwood Road |
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 Thornton
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| OS grid reference | SD339421 |
| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | THORNTON-CLEVELEYS |
| Postcode district | FY5 |
| Dialling code | 01253 |
| Police | Lancashire |
| Fire | Lancashire |
| Ambulance | North West |
| EU Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Thornton is a village in the Borough of Wyre, England. It is located about 4 miles (6.4 km) north of Blackpool and 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Fleetwood. In 1900, Thornton became an urban district, which is a type of local government area. In 1927, its name changed to Thornton-Cleveleys. By 2011, the built-up area of Thornton had nearly 19,000 people living there.
Contents
A Look at Thornton's History
Thornton was first mentioned in a very old book called the Domesday Book in 1086. Back then, it was called Torentum. This name is still remembered today by Torentum Court on Lawsons Road. At that time, Thornton was a very large area, including places like Cleveleys and Fleetwood, but not many people lived there.
Historians believe people lived in this area even earlier, during the Iron Age. A Roman road also runs close to the village. For a long time, the area remained quiet with few residents. However, in 1799, the marshy land around the village was drained. This made it possible to start farming on a large scale.
Marsh Mill: A Historic Landmark
Marsh Mill is a famous windmill in Thornton. It was built in 1794 and is still very well-preserved. Bold Hesketh, an important person in the area, asked for it to be built. His nephew, Peter Hesketh, later known as Peter Hesketh-Fleetwood, helped Fleetwood grow a lot.
Growth and Change in Thornton
In the early 1890s, salt works opened nearby at Burn Naze. These works were run by the United Alkali Company, which later became ICI. This led to Thornton growing a lot. Many new houses and community buildings were built.
Thornton became its own Urban District Council in 1900. This council managed local affairs until 1974. After that, Thornton became part of the Wyre Borough Council.
An interesting old building called The Illawalla used to stand in the Skippool area of Thornton. It was there from 1902 until 1996.
In 2015, something exciting was found in a back garden in the village. It was the complete skeleton of a very old wolf! This wolf was nicknamed the Thornton Wolf.
Getting Around Thornton
Train Travel
A train station called Thornton for Cleveleys railway station opened in Thornton in 1865. It was an important stop on the train line that went from Poulton-le-Fylde to Fleetwood. The station has not been used for many years, and the railway crossing at Station Road is now closed off. However, the Poulton & Wyre Railway Society is looking into whether the railway could come back to Thornton and Fleetwood.
Bus Services
Thornton Centre has bus stops that serve three different routes:
- Blackpool Transport runs routes 74 and 75. These buses start in Fleetwood and end at Preston bus station.
- Transpora runs route 24. This bus starts in Fleetwood and goes to Poulton-le-Fylde.
Places and Services in Thornton
Thornton's main shopping area opened in 1978. It was later replaced by a Co-op supermarket in the early 2000s.
Thornton has several schools for children. These include Baines Endowed Primary School, Thornton Primary School, Stanah Primary School, Royles Brook Primary School, and Sacred Heart Primary School. For older students, there is Millfield Science & Performing Arts College.
The public library, located at Four Lane Ends, was closed in 2016. Many people were unhappy about this decision. Luckily, the library reopened in February 2018!
Sports and Clubs in Thornton
Thornton-Cleveleys is home to several sports teams and clubs:
- Rugby: Thornton-Cleveleys R.U.F.C. plays rugby in the RFU Northern Division. Their home games are at the YMCA sports centre.
- Football: Thornton Cleveleys F.C. plays in the North West Counties Football League. They play their home matches at Gamble Road.
- Cricket: The town has two cricket clubs: Thornton-Cleveleys C.C. and Norcross C.C. Both clubs have teams for adults and several junior teams for different age groups.
- Judo: Thornton Judo Club started in 1974. It is now located at the Scout Hall on Marsh Road. It is part of both The British Judo Council and The British Judo Association.
Gallery
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Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church
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Christ Church, the local parish church
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Shops on Victoria Road East in the village centre
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The county library at Four Lane Ends
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Rows of cottages on Thornton's Underbank Road
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Marsh Mill
See also
In Spanish: Thornton (Lancashire) para niños
