Thorney Close Explained

Official Name:Thorney Close
Country:England
Region:North East England
Static Image:Thorney Close, Sunderland.jpg
Static Image Width:240px
Static Image Caption:Thorndale Road, Thorney Close
Map Type:Tyne and Wear
Population:11,125
Coordinates:54.8828°N -1.4316°W
Post Town:SUNDERLAND
Postcode Area:SR
Postcode District:SR3 4
Constituency Westminster:Sunderland South
Metropolitan Borough:City of Sunderland
Metropolitan County:Tyne and Wear

Thorney Close is a suburb of Sunderland, Tyne and Wear in England.

It is located on the northern edge of the A690 (Durham Road), and borders with Grindon to the north and Herrington to the south, and the A19 to the west. Originally emerging as a Tudor era manor estate and orchard, Thorney Close was purchased by Sunderland authorities in the late 1940s and transformed into one of first its post-war housing states.

History

Middle Ages and Tudor Period

The specific origins of the Thorney Close estate and its name remain unclear. During the Middle Ages, the land was speculated to either be part of the neighbouring Farringdon Hall estate, or is speculated by historians to be part of the former "Clowcroft" estate of which the precise location remains unknown. However, by the Tudor era the name "Thornye Close" appears in historical record, having been owned by three times Mayor of Newcastle Upon Tyne Richard Hodgson and willed to his son Robert.[1] This coincides with reports of the former manor, "Thorney Close Hall" being built in the Tudor Period around 1546, of which was part of the township of Silksworth under the parish of Bishopwearmouth.[2] [3]

The Modern Estate

In 1947, land around the manor was acquired by the Sunderland corporation who began to transform the area into a post-war social housing estate. By 1948 the first 77 homes had been built, ushering in the demolition of the historic manor which following the death of its last owner Violet Bulkley, had been made redundant. By 1971 the population had risen to just under 14,000.[4] According to the 2001 Census, the population was 9,938, with 36.7% living in council houses.[5] In the 2011 Census the population was 11,125, as reported as part of the Sandhill ward.

The estate has three shopping arcades, a community centre, one working men's club, a recently built residential home for the elderly, three Methodist churches, and two primary schools, and a secondary school which was rebuilt in 2003. The former secondary school site is host to the new school, community centre, the local branch library, which was moved from Grindon and a walk in health centre.

Most of the streets in Thorney Close begin with the letter "T". Such as, Telford Road, Twickenham Road, Torquay Road, Thorney Close Road, Taunton Square and Tadcaster Road.

Deprivation

According to the Office of National Statistics Census 2021", Thorney Close ranks joint 2nd with Plains Farm for deprivation within Sunderland at 68.9%, falling from 74.7% in 2011. Hendon and docks ranked 1st at 69% of households being deprived.

In Popular Culture

The estate was the feature location of a short-horror story "The Curse of Thorney Close" which embedded themes of poverty, crime and desperation into a tale of witchcraft in the area.[6] [7]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Greenwell, William. William Greenwell . 1860. Publications of the Surtees Society, Volume 38. Durham. Blackwood and Sons. 116. 9780198702955.
  2. Web site: It's 1952 in Reteo. Sunderland Echo. 7 September 2020.
  3. Web site: Threatened by Housing Plan. Sunderland Echo. British Newspaper Archive. 8 March 2022.
  4. Web site: Diamond date for Thorney Close. Sunderland Echo . 16 January 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070107033719/http://www.sunderlandtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=1512&ArticleID=1958387 . 7 January 2007.
  5. Web site: Thorney Close 2001 Census Ward Card . Sunderland City Council . 16 January 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070927201625/http://www.sunderland.gov.uk/Public/Editable/Themes/theCity/Key-Statistics-Environment/Census/fc-thorney-close.pdf . September 27, 2007 .
  6. https://www.thephantasmal.com/2020/02/phantasmal-horror-stories-curse-of.html Phantasmal Horror Stories: The Curse of Thorney Close
  7. https://sunderlandglobalmedia.org/sunderlands-first-horror-story-the-curse-of-thorney-close/ Sunderland's First Horror Story: The Curse of Thorney Close