Saturday, 6 September 2008
Thorne is a small market town situated 10 miles north east of Doncaster town centre. The town is right on the M18 and very close to the M62, A1, M180 as well as the intercity rail links to London and the busy Humber ports to the east.
Thorne town centre is a major focal point for local people, offering a architectural heritage and good shopping facilities alongside commercial businesses. It was once a thriving coal mining area but now consists of a large population that extends out to rural outlying communities and low-lying farmland.
Thorne also benefits from an attractive canal at its heart and a wealth of green spaces such as Thorne and Hatfield Moors, all of which contribute to the character of the town.
Moorends is situated on the edge of Thorne Moors, a wetland habitat of international repute, and within close proximity to Thorne.
The name Moorend is seen on early maps of Thorne to the north of the town. It referred to the drain marking the eastern boundary of the Moor, which runs to this day along Broadbent Gate Road.
It was developed from a small outlying community of farm workers and peat cutters into a lively mining village after the opening of the colliery in the early 1900's. Since the collapse of the coal industry Moorends consists mainly of residential housing and is well served with shops, schools, churches and a library.
Hatfield Woodhouse is situated 3 miles from Thorne, 8 miles from Doncaster and lies about a mile south east of Hatfield. It is a small part of Hatfield Chase and after Vermuyden drained the land in 1662, it became agriculture land and the people living there became farmers.
Hatfield Woodhouse was a community of small farms and cottages and although there has been some development it still retains its village appearance. It has a school and some small local shops with other amenities being close at hand in Hatfield.
