Thorne
South Yorkshire
Until the 1620s, Thorne was in a more isolated location than it is today. Until then, it was cut off to the south as the River Don was able to flow along its southern edge towards marshland and eastwards into the River Trent. The river was diverted as part of a scheme to drain the marshland and then royal hunting ground of Hatfield Chase. Initially it was diverted into an old dike which took it northwards on the west side of Thorne and into the River Aire. Within a few years a new channel known as Dutch River was cut, which took the water of the River Don more directly into the River Ouse at what is now the port of Goole.
Thorne is now almost joined to the neighbouring village of Moorends, about a mile north, in which some local services will be found. The village forms part of the civil parish run by the Thorne Moorends Town Council. The village expanded in the 20th century through the coal mining community which worked at Thorne Colliery. The mine was successfully worked through several years in the early part of the century despite frequent problems related to flooding, which ultimately caused a closure of the pit in the late 1950s. There were subsequent unsuccessful attempts at reopening the mothballed pit, but it was not until 2004 that it finally came to an end with the turning off of the pumps and demolition of the pit head.
Thorne has long had good transport connections through being on the Stainforth and Keadby Canal and having railways diverging around both sides of the town. Now it is also close to the junction of the
Town features
The town is near to the River Don
Thorne is on the Stainforth and Keadby Canal which links the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation with the River Trent.
Thorne has a number of pubs to choose from.
The town has a range of shops and supermarkets.
The town has a Post Office.
The town has pharmacies.
Thorne has banks.
Takeaway food outlets in the town include fish and chips, chinese, curries, pizzas, sandwiches.
A choice of cafes can be found in Thorne.
Thorne has a selection of places to eat.
The town has a library.
Thorne has community halls.
The town has a leisure centre with swimming pool.
There are public toilets in the town.
Thorne has schools.
Places of worship: Anglican, Catholic, Methodist, other.
Travel
Thorne North station
Station managed by: NORTHERN. Operator/s: NORTHERN.NATIONAL RAIL - Departure and station info
External link to National Rail live departure board for services at this station (opens in new tab).
Thorne South station
Station managed by: NORTHERN. Operator/s: NORTHERN.NATIONAL RAIL - Departure and station info
External link to National Rail live departure board for services at this station (opens in new tab).
Bus travel
The town has buses to neighbouring towns and villages.
Road travel
Thorne can be reached via the M18 M180 A18 A614 A1146 Places to visit
Cusworth Hall
Cusworth Lane, Doncaster
Situated two miles north of Doncaster, off the More information at these Doncaster Council - Cusworth Hall web pages.
South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum
Dakota Way, Airbourne Road, Doncaster
The museum has a collection of aircraft from the first air show to be held in Britain, held at Doncaster Racecourse in 1909, together with more modern preserved light aircraft and jets. It is located about a mile to the south east of the town centre. For opening times see the museum's website. Details at South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum website.
Conisbrough Castle
The castle is situated in the small town of Conisbrough, about five miles south-west of Doncaster and seven miles north-east of Rotherham. Its tall circular cylindrical keep has had its walls and roofs restored to create a feeling of how the castle would have been in the late 12th century when it was built. In 1201, the castle had a royal visit, when King John stayed there. The castle became famous through fiction as the inspiration for Sir Walter Scott's 'Ivanhoe'. The historic site is managed by English Heritage.
Find out more at the
Find on map:
Brodsworth Hall and Gardens
BrodsworthThe Victorian country house at Brodsworth, about 5 miles north-west of Doncaster, was built in 1860, surrounded by beautiful gardens. It remained largely unchanged through its lifetime and is now being conserved by English Heritage. Yorkshire bands perform at the hall most Sundays during the summer. A car park for the hall can be accessed from Church Lane, between the villages of Marr and Brodsworth.
More information at the
Yorkshire Wildlife Park
Hurst Lane, Auckley, Doncaster
The Yorkshire Wildlife Park, about 4 miles south-east of Doncaster, was created at a former farm and riding school in 2009. Over the years it has grown and it is now the outdoor home of 400 animals of 70 different species, including polar bears, lions, tigers and leopards and a whole range of other animals native to Africa, South America and other parts of the world. A few of the species can be visited within their enclosures. A recent addition has been the addition of animatronic versions of long-extinct dinosaur species. Just outside the park gates, The Hive offers craft and gift shops, dining and a hotel. Further details at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park website.
Find on map: Yorkshire Wildlife Park
The Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft
Belton Road, Sandtoft, North Lincolnshire
Although just outside the Yorkshire border at the former RAF Sandtoft airfield in North Lincolnshire, the museum is only a 12-mile drive from Doncaster. It lays claim to having the world's largest collection of preserved trolleybuses and includes many examples of trolleybuses used in Yorkshire, including those from the fleets of More information at The Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft website.
Emergency services
South Yorkshire PoliceSouth Yorkshire Fire and Rescue
Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Local government
Civil parish council
Thorne Moorends Town CouncilProvides some local services in the area.
Link to council website:
Metropolitan district council
Doncaster is one of four metropolitan district authorities within the county of South Yorkshire.
It covers Doncaster and many other towns and villages within a radius of between 7 to 10 miles from centrally-placed Doncaster.
Unusually within Yorkshire, the district council is run by an executive-powered elected mayor, who is supported by a cabinet. The mayor chooses the cabinet from elected councillors.
The elected mayor system means that Doncaster Council has two elections to organise, one for the elected mayor and one for councillors. The mayor and all councillors are selected in elections every four years, the most recent election being in 2021.
The election of 55 councillors is done across 21 wards with two or three councillors elected in each ward. Eight councillors currently serve under the chairmanship of the mayor on the cabinet.
Doncaster is the responsibility of an elected mayor:
Elected mayor:Political composition of the councillors after the May 2021 election:
55 members
Link to Doncaster council website.
County strategic authority
South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined AuthorityCovers combined services including public transport, housing, infrastructure and regeneration and adult education in
Elected mayor:
Police and Crime Commissioner
This role becomes the responsibility of the elected South Yorkshire mayor after the May 2024 election.Fire Authority
South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue AuthorityThe fire authority is made up of elected members of each of the four metropolitan district councils of South Yorkshire - Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.
Parliamentary constituency
Doncaster East and the Isle of AxholmeElected MP: