Thornton | |
---|---|
River Ouse, Thornton, 2008 | |
Location within
Buckinghamshire | |
Population | 194 (2011 Census including Foscott) [1] |
OS grid reference | SP7536 |
Civil parish |
|
Unitary authority | |
Ceremonial county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | Milton Keynes |
Postcode district | MK17 |
Dialling code | 01280 |
Police | Thames Valley |
Fire | Buckinghamshire |
Ambulance | South Central |
UK Parliament | |
Thornton is a village and civil parish on the River Great Ouse about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) north-east of Buckingham in the unitary authority area of Buckinghamshire.
The toponym is derived from the Old English for "thorn tree by a farm". The Domesday Book of 1086 records the village as Ternitone. [2]
It was formerly thought that the "lost" Domesday manor of Hasley formed part of Thornton [3] but it is now established that this was incorrect and that Hasley was part of Radclive. [4]
The earliest record of the Church of England Church of Saint Michael and All Angels dates from 1219. [2] The present building is 14th-century, but was dramatically restored between 1770 and 1800 [2] and largely rebuilt by the Gothic Revival architect John Tarring in 1850. [5] The restorers retained mediaeval features including the 14th-century belltower, chancel arch and clerestory and 15th century clerestory windows. [2]
The Tudor Revival Thornton Hall (now Thornton College) was also built to John Tarring's designs in 1850. [5] It incorporates parts of a medieval house modernised in the 18th century. [5] The manor was home to Richard Cavendish (1794–1876) [6] [7]
Thornton College, an independent day and boarding school for girls, occupies the former Manor House Thornton Hall. The school educates girls aged 4 – 18 and has a nursery for boys and girls aged 2½ to 4. Since the Sisters of Jesus and Mary (a Catholic religious order), purchased the site in 1917, there have been a significant number of new developments at the school, most recently an award-winning Science and Prep Classroom wing (AVDC Outstanding Design Award). A new Sixth Form department opened in 2016. The school now has over 400 pupils. [8]
Media related to Thornton, Buckinghamshire at Wikimedia Commons