Thornbury, market town in South Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire, England
Thornbury is a small town in South Gloucestershire situated in a quiet valley between the river Severn and local waterways. The place is marked by historic buildings and grew as a market center, with the church and market square forming its core.
Thornbury has roots extending over a thousand years, with the settlement of Thornbyrig first mentioned at the end of the 8th century. The town later became an important local administrative center with a castle built in the early 1500s and a church dating from the 12th century.
The market was the heart of community life in Thornbury, with farmers and craftspeople gathering weekly to trade goods and meet neighbors from surrounding villages. The town's layout and old buildings still reflect this tradition of local exchange and social connection.
The town is accessible by train via the nearby Gloucester railway line, and visitors can easily explore on foot along the narrow streets and pathways. Walking trails along the local waterways offer pleasant routes through the town and its surroundings.
An old record from 1780 describes how bread from nearby Iron Acton was sold in Thornbury at low prices and small weights, revealing how local trade was simple and tightly connected to surrounding villages. This small detail shows the daily rhythm of work and exchange that defined the time.
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