| Thorne | |
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Thorne
Thorne shown within South Yorkshire |
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| Population | 16,592 (2001) |
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| OS grid reference | SE6891212950 |
| Parish | Thorne |
| Metropolitan borough | Doncaster |
| Metropolitan county | South Yorkshire |
| Region | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Doncaster |
| Postcode district | DN8 |
| Dialling code | 01405 |
| Police | South Yorkshire |
| Fire | South Yorkshire |
| Ambulance | Yorkshire |
| EU Parliament | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| UK Parliament | Doncaster North |
| List of places: UK • England • Yorkshire | |
Thorne is a market town and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster in South Yorkshire, England. It has a population of 16,592.[1]
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It lies east of the River Don, on the Stainforth and Keadby Canal, and is located at approximately , at an elevation of around 5 metres above sea level, on the Yorkshire side of the border with Lincolnshire. The civil parish of Thorne also takes in the village of Moorends to the north.
The town is served by two railway stations: Thorne North, and Thorne South; as well as Junction 6 of the M18 and junction 1 of the M180. The A614 runs through the town, crossing the canal.
The land which is now Thorne was once inhabited by Neolithic, Bronze Age and Iron Age people. It became a permanent settlement around AD700, and is mentioned in the Domesday Book.
The main industries in the town have traditionally been coal mining and farming, although many residents now commute to Doncaster.
Brass Band concerts are held in the park during the summer months, which is also the location for the Thorne Memorial Park Miniature Railway and the annual Thorne Festival. The area now has its very own Community Radio station, TMCR 95.3.
Notable buildings in the town include the eleventh century parish church and the motte of Peel Hill Castle. Other attractions include the extensive Thorne Moors.
There are Dutch-like bridges over canals, such as the Wykewell bridge. There are two large water towers. The parish church is St Nicholas.
Local rugby league side Moorends-Thorne Marauders RLFC play in the CMS Yorkshire league during the winter season and the Rugby League Conference during the summer.
Thorne is also home to the rugby union side Thornensians RUFC who currently play in Yorkshire Division 3.
Speedway racing, then known as Dirt Track racing, was staged a track on the southern edge of the town in 1930. Billed as "The Wembley of the North" the track was a bit basic and followed the edge of the football pitch on the inside of the track. Rather than two sweeping bends, the track shown on contemporary ordnance survey maps, had four corners and four straights.
In September 2005 a newly built school, Trinity Academy, opened in Thorne. Specialising in Business and Enterprise. The £24 million state of the art Academy has nine classes per year group, and an initial school population of 1250 children, between the ages of 11 – 18, and is the third Christian Ethos school founded by Sir Peter Vardy. In 2004, only 21 per cent of students from Thorne and Moorends achieved five or more passes at grade C or above. But Trinity has revolutionised education in the area and was named as England's most improved academy last year
The new Academy replaced Thorne Grammar School, a once notable provider of distinguished education, which boasts many famous alumni, including Lesley Garrett; George Porter, a nobel prize-winning chemist; Charles Spencer, a renowned pianist; and Sir Graham Hall, former CEO of Yorkshire Electricity.
Notable people from Thorne include Roy Clarke and Thomas Crapper. Former professional footballer Leigh Jenkinson, who represented Wales internationally, is from Thorne. Gillian Coultard, former captain of England women's football team during the 1990s is also born and bred in Thorne. Simon Worrall who plays for Leeds Rhinos after switching codes from rugby union, was born in Thorne.
Lesley Garrett, operatic soprano, attended Thorne Grammar School and was reunited with the Thorne of her past in the BBC documentary series Who Do You Think You Are?.
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