Thornham (St. Mary)
THORNHAM (St. Mary), a parish, in the union of
Hollingbourne, hundred of Eyhorne, lathe of Aylesford, W. division of Kent, 3 miles (N. E. by E.) from
Maidstone; containing 535 inhabitants. The parish
comprises 3319 acres, of which 815 are in wood. A
vein of white sand discovered here, known by the name
of Maidstone sand, is said to have caused the first improvement in the manufacture of glass in this country;
it was originally worked by experienced Italians, and
soon became of infinite importance in the trade. The
pits are remarkable for their vast subterranean caverns,
which are curiously arched. The living is a vicarage,
valued in the king's books at £8. 0. 10.; net income,
£392; patron and incumbent, the Rev. J. McMahon
Wilder; impropriator, Sir E. Dering, Bart.: a vicaragehouse has been recently built. The church is principally in the decorated English style. There is a place
of worship for Wesleyans. Ruins of a castle still exist
on the brow of a hill forming part of a great range of
chalk hills; the walls are more than thirteen feet high,
and three feet thick, and inclose an area of a quarter of
an acre including the keep mount. Urns and other vestiges of a Roman station have been found.
Thornham
THORNHAM, a township, in the parish of Middleton, union of Oldham, hundred of Salford, S. division
of Lancashire, 3½ miles (S.) from Rochdale; containing 1456 inhabitants. The name of this place is derived
from Thorn and Ham, both Saxon terms, meaning "the
hamlet of thorns." The township stretches to the northeast of Middleton, extending on both sides of the Oldham and Rochdale road, and comprises 2070 acres.
Coal is abundant. The chief feature in the natural
aspect of the district is Tandle Hill, remarkable for the
swelling outline of its base and the rotundity of its
shape in the upper part, which, with the groves on its
summit, render it altogether a striking eminence, visible
for many miles round; the slopes are here and there
shrouded by copses of wood, and the views from the
hill are highly diversified. The principal landowner is
Lord Suffield: the late lord planted the rising grounds
to a moderate extent, and erected a cottage on the
heights for one of his keepers. Thornham Fold, a
group of ancient houses, is two miles north-east of Middleton. At Smithy Ford, Gravel Hole, and Beursill are
also groups of dwellings. The extensive farm of Hough
here, derives its name from hoeh, Saxon, "a dry
ditch."
Thornham (All Saints)
THORNHAM (All Saints), a parish, in the union
of Docking, hundred of Smithdon, W. division of
Norfolk, 6¼ miles (W. by N.) from Burnham-Westgate;
containing 790 inhabitants, and comprising 2100 acres
of land. The village is of considerable extent, on the
road from Lynn to Wells; and about half a mile to the
north is a staith, formed on a creek which is sufficiently
large for ships of 100 tons. A good trade is carried on
in corn, coal, timber, malt, and oil-cake. On the seashore is an extensive tract of rich salt-marsh, formerly a
forest: large trees and the horns of stags have been
frequently found. The living is a discharged vicarage,
with that of Holme-near-the-Sea annexed, valued in the
king's books at £10; net income, £428; patron, and
appropriator of Thornham, the Bishop of Norwich.
The great tithes of Thornham have been commuted for
£480, and the vicarial for £250; the vicar receives a
modus of £20 out of the great tithes, and the glebe contains about 14 acres. The church is chiefly in the
early and later English styles, and a beautifully-carved
screen separates the nave from the chancel; the tower is
in ruins. There is a place of worship for Wesleyans.
At the inclosure in 1794, 30 acres of land were allotted
to the poor, who receive also the proceeds of 9 acres left
by an unknown benefactor.
Thornham Magna (St. Mary)
THORNHAM MAGNA (St. Mary), a parish, in
the union and hundred of Hartismere, W. division of
Suffolk, 3¼ miles (W. S. W.) from Eye; containing
374 inhabitants. The road from London to Norwich,
by way of Ipswich, runs through the eastern part of the
parish. The living is a discharged rectory, with that of
Thornham Parva consolidated in 1744, valued in the
king's books at £7. 11. 3.; net income, £497; patron,
Lord Henniker, who possesses the seat of Thornham
Hall. The church is chiefly in the later English style,
with an embattled tower. Here was a chapel dedicated
to St. Eadburga, and called St. Arborough's chapel, in
which an anchorite resided; it appears to have been
standing in the reign of Elizabeth.
Thornham Parva
THORNHAM PARVA, a parish, in the union and
hundred of Hartismere, W. division of Suffolk, 2¾
miles (W. by S.) from Eye; containing 203 inhabitants.
The living is a discharged rectory, consolidated with
that of Thornham Magna, and valued in the king's books
at £4. 14. 4½. The church is chiefly in the early English style, with a low tower; the entrances are through
Norman doorways.
Thornhaugh (St. Andrew)
THORNHAUGH (St. Andrew), a parish, in the
union of Stamford, soke of Peterborough, N. division of the county of Northampton, 1 mile (N.) from
Wansford; containing 295 inhabitants. The parish is
situated on the great road from London to York, within
a mile of the river Nene, and two miles of the Peterborough and Blisworth railway; it comprises 1726a. 1r.
13p. Stone is quarried for roads and buildings. The
living is a rectory, with the living of Wansford annexed,
valued in the king's books at £17. 1. 3., and in the gift
of the Duke of Bedford: the tithes have been commuted
for £447, and the glebe contains 52 acres. The church
exhibits portions in the various styles of English architecture. Sir William Russell, 4th son of Francis, 2nd
earl of Bedford, resided in the parish, and was buried
here in 1613; the place confers the title of Baron on
the Russell family.
Thornhill
THORNHILL, a township, in the parish of Hope,
union of Chapel-en-le-Frith, hundred of High Peak,
N. division of the county of Derby, 6¾ miles (N. E. by
N.) from Tideswell; containing 144 inhabitants.
Thornhill
THORNHILL, a tything, in the parish of Stalbridge, union of Sturminster, hundred of Brownshall, Sturminster division of Dorset, 2 miles (S.) from
Stalbridge; containing 279 inhabitants.
Thornhill (St. Michael)
THORNHILL (St. Michael), a parish, in the union
of Dewsbury, Lower division of the wapentake of
Agbrigg, W. riding of York; containing, with the
chapelry of Flockton, and the townships of Shitlington
and Lower Whitley, 7201 inhabitants, of whom 2816
are in Thornhill township, 3 miles (S. by E.) from Dewsbury. This place was the seat of the Thornhill family,
for many generations proprietors of the manor, which
was conveyed by marriage in 1404 to the Savilles, from
whom the estate descended to the second son of Sir
George Saville's sister: that lady had been married to
Richard, Earl of Scarborough, ancestor of the present
owner. The parish comprises by admeasurement 7816
acres, of which 2486 are in the township. It produces
coal of excellent quality, and an extensive mine under
his own estate is wrought by Joshua Ingham, Esq.,
affording constant employment to nearly 400 of the
population. In the Lees, a tract sloping towards the
river Calder, and ornamented with ancient woods, are
the remains of the castellated mansion of the Thornhill
family, which was garrisoned by Sir George Saville for
the king, was besieged and taken by the parliamentary
forces, and subsequently demolished. The village is
situated on the south side of the river Calder and the
Calder and Hebble navigation; it was formerly a place
of considerable importance, of which several indications
still remain, and had a market and a fair, granted by a
charter of Edward II. in 1320. The living is a rectory,
valued in the king's books at £40. 0. 7½.; net income,
£988, with a good glebe-house and grounds; patron,
the Earl of Scarborough. The church is an ancient and
venerable structure, chiefly in the early English style,
with a square embattled tower: on the south side of the
chancel is a chapel containing numerous monuments to
the Saville family, one of which, entirely of oak, has the
effigies of Sir John Saville and his two wives. The
churchyard was walled round, and neatly inclosed, in
1840, by the present rector, At Flockton is a separate
incumbency. There are places of worship for Baptists
and Wesleyans. The Rev. Charles Greenwood, in 1642,
bequeathed £500 for the crection and endowment of a
free school; the income is £20 per annum. Here is
also a school endowed in 1712, by Richard Walker, Esq.,
with property producing £40 per annum. Richard
Swallow, Esq., in 1688 bequeathed £100, and Mrs.
Margaret Trapper in 1698 £300, for the poor; which
sums were vested in land now producing £120 a year.
Thornholm
THORNHOLM, a township, in the parish of Burton-Agnes, union of Bridlington, wapentake of
Dickering, E. riding of York, 4¾ miles (S. W. by W.)
from Bridlington; containing 88 inhabitants. It comprises about 1360 acres of land: the village is on the
high road from Bridlington to Driffield. The vicarial
tithes have been commuted for £136; and the appropriate for £175. 13. 6., payable to the Archbishop of
York.
Thornley
THORNLEY, a township, in the parish of Kelloe,
union of Easington, S. division of Easington ward, N.
division of the county of Durham, 6½ miles (S. E. by E.)
from Durham; containing 2730 inhabitants. This place
was distinguished in the twelfth century as the retreat
of William de St. Barbara, Bishop of Durham, who,
during the usurpation of the see, on the death of Gilfrid
Rufus, by William Cummin, chancellor of the king of
Scotland, took refuge with his retinue in an ancient
castle here, which appears to have been strongly fortified. The township comprises the two estates of Thornley
Hall and Gore Hall, both of which have been the property of the Spearman family for more than 150 years.
Thornley Hall, a spacious mansion supposed to occupy
the site of the castle, is situated on a commanding eminence, and is now the residence of the agents of an
extensive colliery commenced here in 1833, previously
to which year the population of the township did not
exceed 60 persons. The coal is of very excellent quality,
and is conveyed by railway to Hartlepool, whence it is
shipped for the London market under the appellation
of "Hartlepool Wallsend." A district church in the
early English style was erected in 1842, by subscription,
aided by a grant of £250 from Her Majesty's Commissioners; it is a neat structure, and calculated to accommodate 474 persons. The living is a perpetual curacy
in the gift of the Vicar, with an income of £150. The
vicarial tithes have been commuted for £20. There are
places of worship for Primitive Methodists and Wesleyans.
Thornley
THORNLEY, with Wheatley, a township, in the
parish of Chipping, union of Clitheroe, Lower division of the hundred of Blackburn, N. division of Lancashire, 9½ miles (N. E. by N.) from Preston, on the
road to Clitheroe; containing 507 inhabitants. Thomas, Earl of Derby, in the 14th of Henry VII., purchased
the manor of Thornley-cum-Wheatley from Charles
Singleton. The mother of Sir Edward Stanley, of Bickerstaffe, afterwards Earl of Derby, was a daughter of
Thomas Patten of Preston: the Misses Patten resided
here, and gave name to Patten Hall, a mansion in the
Gothic style, which they sold to the Earl of Derby. The
township comprises 3180a. 3r. 2p., whereof 366 acres
are arable, 2444 meadow and pasture, 70 wood and
plantation, and 300 common, &c. The soil is various,
including clay and a brown earth; and the surface rises
gradually from a stream called the Loude (a tributary
to the Hodder) up to Longridge Fell, forming a pretty
vale. The Loude separates the township from Chipping. Extensive limestone-quarries here are leased from
the Earl of Derby by Mr. Henry Wilkinson, of New
House, who employs 100 hands. There is a manor cornmill. The Roman Catholics have a place of worship.
Thornsett
THORNSETT, a hamlet, in the district of Newmills, parish of Glossop, union of Hayfield, hundred
of High Peak, N. division of the county of Derby;
containing 764 inhabitants. It extends north-east from
the thriving village of Newmills.
Thornthwaite
THORNTHWAITE, a chapelry, in the parish of
Crosthwaite, union of Cockermouth, Allerdale
ward above Derwent, W. division of Cumberland, 4
miles (W. N. W.) from Keswick; containing 187 inhabitants. This village commands romantic views of
Bassenthwaite lake and Skiddaw. The manufacture of
woollen-cloth is carried on. The living is a perpetual
curacy; net income, £59; patron, the Vicar of Crosthwaite. The chapel has been enlarged.
Thornthwaite
THORNTHWAITE, a chapelry, in the parish of
Hampsthwaite, union of Pateley-Bridge, Lower division of the wapentake of Claro, W. riding of York,
4 miles (S.) from Pateley-Bridge; containing, with the
hamlet of Padside, 281 inhabitants. It comprises by
computation 3126 acres, of which a considerable portion is moorland; the surface is boldly undulated, and
the scenery picturesque. The district contains coal of
good quality, of which some mines are in operation;
and a few of the inhabitants are employed in spinning
flax, and in the manufacture of linen. The river Washburn passes on the west. The living is a perpetual
curacy, in the patronage of the Vicar of Hampsthwaite,
with a net income of £109: the chapel rebuilt in 1810,
at an expense of £500, and beautified in 1842, contains
300 sittings. Francis Day, in 1748 and 1757, gave land
now producing £40 per annum, for teaching children.