North Thoresby

St. Helen's - photo by Bob Emm

North Thoresby is a village in Lincolnshire situated between Louth and Grimsby, approximately 12 kilometres from each with a population of about 1,000.

The area is essentially agricultural but the majority of residents work in Grimsby and Cleethorpes or in the industries situated on the Humber bank.

North Thoresby is a popular and attractive village with good facilities including two pubs (with restaurants) a number of shops, a modern primary school, surgery and pharmacy, a village hall and facilities for football, cricket and bowls.

The church, St Helen's[1], is on a site where christian worship has continued for more than 1000 years. Like most churches of its age it has seen many alterations from an original simple room to a fifteenth century edifice with north and south aisles. The south aisle was demolished in Elizabethan times but signs of it still survive inside the church. Interesting features include part of a saxon grave cover, tudor bench ends and fascinating restoration plaques which record the work of such humble tradesman as "putty makers". There is also a memorial tablet to Francis Bond, the late nineteenth century authority on Gothic architecture, who was born in the village.

The Methodist chapel, school and school house, were built in the mid 19th century. The school and house were converted into a community centre known as The Wesley Centre in 1985 when the primary school relocated to a new building on High Street.

The village has regular bus services to both Louth and Grimsby. The village was on the railway line from Louth to Grimsby until the Beeching Axe in the 1960s.

Like many villages in the area the name Thoresby finishes with the letters BY â€" this indicates the influence of the Vikings.

Just outside the village evidence was found that the Romans grew grapes in the area.