Thirsk | |
---|---|
Town | |
Thirsk market place, 2009 | |
Location within North Yorkshire | |
Population | (2011 census) |
• Civil parish | 4,998 [1] |
• Built-up area | 9,953 [2] |
OS grid reference | SE429820 |
• London | 227 miles (365 km) |
Civil parish |
|
Unitary authority | |
Ceremonial county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | THIRSK |
Postcode district | YO7 |
Dialling code | 01845 |
Police | North Yorkshire |
Fire | North Yorkshire |
Ambulance | Yorkshire |
UK Parliament | |
Website | thirsk-tc |
Thirsk is a market town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England; it is known for its racecourse, quirky yarn bombing displays and depiction as local author James Herriot's fictional Darrowby. [3] [4]
Archeological finds indicate there was a settlement in Thirsk around 500–600 BC. [5] The town's name is derived from the Old Norse word þresk meaning fen or lake. [6] [7]
Thirsk is mentioned twice in the 1086 Domesday Book as Tresche, in the Yarlestre wapentake, a village with ten households. At the time of the Norman invasion the manor was split between Orm and Thor, local Anglo-Saxon landowners. Afterwards, it was split between Hugh, son of Baldric and the Crown. [8]
Most of Thirsk was granted to a Robert from Montbray for whose descendant House of Mowbray and the vale of Mowbray is named. [9] [10]
By 1145, what is now Old Thirsk, gained a Market charter giving it town and borough status. The remaining land in the parish was still under manorial rights.[ citation needed ]
The Mowbray family built a castle on the north side of Castlegate. It is not mentioned in the Domesday Book and an exact date is not recorded for construction, but it was known to be completely destroyed by 1176 following an uprising against Henry II.[ citation needed ]
William de Mowbray, 6th Baron of Thirsk, 4th Baron Mowbray, was one of the 25 executors of the Magna Carta in 1215. [11] The Mowbrays built a manor house on the old castle site, which was destroyed by the Scots in 1322. [9] [10] The manor itself continued to be in the Mowbray's possession, despite several claims, until the death of the 16th Lord Mowbray in 1476.
After the War of the Roses, Henry VII raised taxes, and that caused uprisings in the north. This led to the murder of Henry Percy, 4th Earl of Northumberland, either on The Little Green, where he was sent to collect taxes, or in nearby South Kilvington. [12]
With no direct succession, the daughter of Thomas de Mowbray, 1st Duke of Norfolk inherited the manor, who had married into the Berkeley family. Her son, William de Berkeley, 1st Marquess of Berkeley, inherited it on her death. For some years, the manor was held by Thomas Stanley Earl of Derby, whose successors held it after William's death, until 1723.
In that year, it was sold by James Earl of Derby to Ralph Bell (MP) of Sowerby, "whose descendants thereafter held the manor". [13] It remained in the Bell family into the 20th century. [9] [10] [14]
Thirsk Hall in Kirkgate is a grade II* listed three-storey town house built in 1720 and extended in 1770 by York architect John Carr. [15]
A 1767 Act of Parliament [16] provided for building a navigable waterway to the town from the River Swale along Cod Beck. The project ran out of funds and was never completed, although remains can be seen of the wharf and a lock near Lock Bridge. [9] [17] The Thirsk Poor Law Union was formed in 1837 and covered a large part of the North Riding of Yorkshire. A workhouse was erected in Sutton Road in 1838. [10]
A rail crash occurred at Manor House signal box on 2 November 1892, on the North Eastern Railway about 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Thirsk railway station, when an express train collided with the back of a goods train, both heading south in fog. There were 10 people killed and 43 injured. [18] Another took place on 31 July 1967 on the East Coast Main Line. On that occasion an express train travelling north collided with a derailed freight train. Seven people were killed and 45 injured. [19]
Thirsk has been in the Thirsk and Malton Parliamentary constituency since its creation for the 2010 general election. Kevin Hollinrake was elected MP at the 2015 UK general election. [20]
The town was a parliamentary borough that had representation in 1295, and then from 1547 to 1885. For the majority of the latter period, it was represented by two members until 1882, when it was reduced to one member. [21]
The constituency of Thirsk and Malton was originally created for the 1885 General Elections by the Redistribution of Seats Act of 1885, and existed until 1983. During that period it returned six Conservative party members to parliament, which included one by-election in 1915. [22]
The Civil Parish of Thirsk was created by the Local Government Act 1894. The Local Government Act 1972 afforded Parish Councils the opportunity to change titles. Thirsk renamed itself a Town Council. In so doing, the Chairman was also renamed as Mayor. The council is represented by eleven Councillors. [23] [24] The town council meets at Thirsk and Sowerby Town Hall. [25]
Place | Distance | Direction | Relation |
---|---|---|---|
London | 192 miles (309 km) [26] | South | Capital city |
Middlesbrough | 24 miles (39 km) [27] | North-east | Most populated place in the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire |
York | 22 miles (35 km) [28] | South-west | Historic county town |
Northallerton | 8 miles (13 km) [29] | North | County town |
Thirsk is in the Vale of Mowbray and situated around the Cod Beck. Within Thirsk, Norby lies to the north-west, and Old Thirsk to the north-east. The separate parish of Sowerby abuts to the south.
Nearby villages with names of Danish origin, identified by the suffix by meaning village or farmstead, include Thirlby, Boltby and Borrowby.
The 1881 UK Census recorded the population of the parish as 3,337. [10]
The parish had a population of 4,703 according to the 2001 Census. [30]
The 2011 UK Census recorded the population as 4,998, an increase of 33% over the past 120 years, with a density of 3.9 people per hectare. Of the total population, 48.9% were male and 51.1% were female. The ethnic make up of the town was 94.3% White British, 3.0% Other White, 0.9% Asian British and 0.2% Black/Mixed and other Ethnic Groups. The religious composition of the town was 71.7% Christian, 27.4% None or no religion stated, 0.3% Muslim, 0.2% Buddhist, 0.1% Hindu, 0.1% Jewish and 0.0% Sikh. [1]
Thirsk's medieval market place in the town centre hosts an open-air market each Monday and Saturday. The market was established in 1145 and remains a focal point for traders and visitors. Tourism and hospitality are major parts of the town's economy. [31]
Severfield plc based on nearby former RAF Dalton, and VetUK are significant employers in the area. [32] [33]
There is a livestock auction market to the south-east of the town. [34]
The town had a reputation for its leather tanning and saddlery trade, but by the 19th century was better known for the production of agricultural implements. [10]
Thirsk Museum is operated by a team of volunteers in the house where Thomas Lord was born. [35]
The town's former courthouse, in adjoining Sowerby, has been an arts space since 1992. [36]
The World of James Herriot is a visitor attraction in the former home and veterinary surgery of author James Herriot. [37] [38]
Photography for Pulp's Different Class album art was taken around Thirsk and includes shots of Thirsk Market Place, Hambleton Estate, Tesco's supermarket on Station Road, Sowerby and Ripon Way in nearby Carlton Miniott. Local children feature in pictures accompanying the work known for its track, Common People. [39] [40] [41] [42]
The Thirsk Hall Sculpture Park opened in 2021 in the grounds of Thirsk Hall. Artists that have been featured in the park include Michael Lyons, Zak Ové, and Emily Young. [43]
Local news and television programmes are provided by BBC Yorkshire and BBC North East and Cumbria on BBC One & ITV Yorkshire and ITV Tyne Tees on ITV1. Television signals can be received from either Emley Moor or Bilsdale TV transmitters. [44] [45]
Thirsk's local radio stations are BBC Radio York on 104.3 FM. Greatest Hits Radio Yorkshire (formerly Minster FM) on 102.3 FM, and YO1 Radio on 102.8 FM.[ citation needed ]
The town is served by these local newspapers:
Thirsk railway station is 22.25 miles (36 km) north of York on the East Coast Main Line and situated 1.5 miles (2 km) from the centre of Thirsk, in Carlton Miniott.[ citation needed ]
Bus services for York, Ripon, Northallerton and local villages stop in Thirsk market place.[ citation needed ]
The A61, passes through Thirsk market place. Since 1972 the A19 has bypassed Thirsk to the east of the town. [49]
The town has one primary school, Thirsk Community Primary, with two others in the adjoining village of Sowerby. It is within the catchment area of Thirsk School and Sixth Form College for secondary education. The current primary school was opened in 1979 with an extension added in 1991 to house extra classrooms, nursery section and medical facilities. Due to rises in the school population, some temporary build classrooms have also been erected on site. [50] It is a mixed gender school catering for pupils between the ages of 3 and 11. It has a student capacity of 315 and as of 2013 was at 90.5% of that. [51]
St Mary's Church is a Grade I listed, 15th-century church. There are gouges created by sharpening arrows and knives in the porch, and by the altar in the chancel. [52] [53]
The Friends Meeting House on Kirkgate that has been on that site since at least 1799. [10]
In 1861 the Wesleyan Chapel on St James' Green was built. [10]
A Roman Catholic Church dedicated to All Saints was added in 1867 on Castlegate. [10]
Thirsk Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue consisting of a left handed oval of about one mile and two furlongs. The present course opened in 1923, but racing had taken place on the old course at nearby Black Hambleton over 200 years earlier. The racecourse serves flat racing in the spring and summer months. [54] [55]
Thirsk Cricket Club was founded in 1851 and play in the middle of Thirsk Racecourse. The club was a founder member of the York & District League in which they still compete. [56]
Thirsk Hockey Club have been affiliated to the Yorkshire Hockey Association since 1923. Until Thirsk School laid a floodlit, artificial pitch they played on grass pitches on the out field of the Cricket Club. They still share the Cricket Clubhouse for social facilities. [57]
Thirsk Falcons FC compete in the Teesside Football League, which is at the 13th level of the English football league system.[ citation needed ]
Thirsk RUFC is a Rugby Union Club which competes in the Yorkshire Division 4 North West league.[ citation needed ]
Thirsk was on the route of the Tour de Yorkshire in 2016 and 2018. [58] [59]
North Yorkshire is a ceremonial county in the Yorkshire and the Humber and North East regions of England. It borders County Durham to the north, the North Sea to the east, the East Riding of Yorkshire to the south-east, South Yorkshire to the south, West Yorkshire to the south-west, and Cumbria and Lancashire to the west. Northallerton is the county town.
James Alfred Wight, better known by his pen name James Herriot, was a British veterinary surgeon and author.
Sowerby is a village, electoral ward and civil parish in the Hambleton District of North Yorkshire, England immediately south of the neighbouring market town of Thirsk. Although the boundary between the two parishes runs very close to Thirsk town centre, the village retains its own identity and has a separate Parish Council. The author James Herriot lived in the village.
Northallerton is a market town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. It is near the River Wiske in the Vale of Mowbray and had a population of 16,832 in 2011. Northallerton is an administrative centre for York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority and North Yorkshire Council.
Hambleton was a local government district in North Yorkshire, England. The administrative centre was Northallerton, and the district included the outlying towns and villages of Bedale, Thirsk, Great Ayton, Stokesley, and Easingwold.
Boltby is a village and civil parish in the Hambleton District of North Yorkshire, England. It is on the edge of the North York Moors National Park at 460 feet (140 m), and about six miles (9.7 km) north-east of Thirsk. According to the 2011 census, it had a population of 143.
Carlton Miniott, formerly Carlton Islebeck is a village and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England, on the A61 road to the immediate west of Thirsk, 25 miles (40 km) north of York. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 926, increasing to 990 at the 2011 census.
Hutton Sessay is a village and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. In 2013 the population of the civil parish was estimated at 100. The village is situated just west of the A19 between Thirsk and Easingwold.
Topcliffe is a village and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. The village is situated on the River Swale, on the A167 road and close to the A168. It is about 5 miles (8 km) south-west of Thirsk and 11 miles (18 km) south of the county town of Northallerton. It has a population of 1,489. An army barracks, with a Royal Air Force airfield enclosed within, is located to the north of the village.
South Kilvington is a village and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated just off the A19, about one mile north of Thirsk.
Newby Wiske is a village and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated on the River Wiske, about five miles north-west of Thirsk.
Thornton-le-Street is a village and parochial and civil parish in the Hambleton District of North Yorkshire, England. It is part of the civil parish of Thornton-le-Moor and Thornton-le-Street for District purposes. As the population remained less 100 at the 2011 Census details are included in the civil parish of Thornton-le-Moor. In 2015, North Yorkshire County Council estimated the population to have been 90.
Thirsk and Malton is a constituency in North Yorkshire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by Kevin Hollinrake, a Conservative.
Slingsby is a village and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England, 6 miles (10 km) west of Malton on the B1257 road. At the 2001 Census, it had a population of 634, increasing to 665 at the 2011 Census.
Upsall Castle is a fourteenth-century ruin, park and manor house in Upsall, in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England.
The A168 is a major road in North Yorkshire, England. It runs from Northallerton to Wetherby, acting as a local access road for the A1(M).
World of James Herriot Ltd is a visitor attraction in the former Thirsk home and veterinary surgery of author James Herriot.
St Mary's Church, Thirsk is a Church of England parish church in Thirsk, North Yorkshire. The church is a grade I listed building.
Thirsk and Sowerby Town Hall is a municipal building in Westgate, Sowerby, North Yorkshire, England. Although it is commonly described as being in Thirsk, it is on the south side of Westgate, which is in Sowerby. The building is used as the meeting place of Thirsk Town Council and of Sowerby Parish Council.
Thirsk Castle was a defensive Medieval castle in the town of Thirsk, in North Yorkshire, England. The castle was one of three held by the de Mowbray family in Yorkshire.