Thornton Rust

The village is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 by the name Toreton. At the time of the Norman invasion the manor belonged to Thor, but afterwards was granted to Count Alan of Brittany.{{OpenDomesday|OS=SE0086|thornton-rust|display=Thornton Rust|accessdate=6 April 2013}} A mesne lordship was held here by Sybil of Thornton in 1286, but the head tenant of the manor was Robert de Tateshall, who was also lord of Thorlaby manor. The descent of Thornton Rust manor followed that of Thoralby into the 19th century.{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=64744|title=History|accessdate=6 April 2013}}{{cite book|title=Bulmer's Topography, History and Directory (Private and Commercial) of North Yorkshire 1890 |page=346|year=2002|origyear=1890 |publisher= S&N Publishing|isbn= 1-86150-299-0}}

The toponymy of the village name is derived from the combination of the Old English words of þorn and tūn, which gave the meaning of Thorn tree farm, and partly it is said from Bishop Restitutus, to whom the medieval chapel was claimed to have been dedicated, though evidence is lacking. The chapel no longer exists.{{cite book|author=Watts|title= Cambridge Dictionary of English Place-names|page=611|publisher = Cambridge University Press|year=2011|isbn=978-0521168557}}

The children’s author William Mayne lived and died in Thornton Rust.{{cite web|url=http://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/news/5081618.Shamed_author_found_dead/|title=Shamed author found dead|date=24 March 2010 |work=Darlington & Stockton Times|publisher=Newsquest|accessdate=24 March 2010}}

The village lies within the Richmond and Northallerton UK Parliament constituency. From 1974 to 2023 it was part of the district of Richmondshire, it is now administered by the unitary North Yorkshire Council.

The civil parish shares a grouped parish council with the civil parishes of Aysgarth, Bishopdale, Newbiggin and Thoralby, known as Aysgarth & District Parish Council.{{cite web|url=http://www.richmondshire.gov.uk/council-democracy/parish-and-town-councils|title=Parish and Town Councils|publisher=Richmondshire District Council|year=2014|accessdate=18 August 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819090519/http://www.richmondshire.gov.uk/council-democracy/parish-and-town-councils|archivedate=19 August 2014}}

The village is at an elevation of {{convert|870|ft}} at its highest. The River Ure and the A684 are {{convert|0.5|mi|1}} to the north. The village of Aysgarth is {{convert|2.5|mi|0}} to the south-east and Bainbridge {{convert|2.6|mi}} to the north-west. It is a typical linear village on top of a limestone scar.{{cite web | url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/business-government/tools-support/open-data-support | title=OpenData support | OS Tools & Support }}

The 2001 UK census showed that the population was split 50% male to 50% female. The religious constituency was made of 78.4% Christian and the rest stating no religion or not stating at all. The ethnic make-up was 97.7% White British and 2.3% White other. There were 57 dwellings.

The 2011 UK census showed that the population was split 51.4% male to 48.6% female. The religious constituency was made of 78.5% Christian and the rest stating no religion or not stating at all. The ethnic make-up was 98.1% White British and 1.9% each White Other. There were 63 dwellings.

The village has a bus service which is operated by the Little White Bus and goes between Hawes and Leyburn. More Services can be reached from the nearby villages of Aysgarth and Worton.{{cite web |title=WENSLEYDALE VOYAGER 156: Gayle – Hawes- Askrigg – Aysgarth – Leyburn – Princes Gate |url=https://www.littlewhitebus.co.uk/lwb_wensleydale/ |website=littlewhitebus.co.uk |access-date=11 July 2021 |format=PDF}}

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{{Commons category-inline|Thornton Rust}}

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Category:Villages in North Yorkshire

Category:Civil parishes in North Yorkshire

Category:Wensleydale