Did you know that the story of Thirsk goes back 1500 years?
More about historical Thirsk

c550 Anglo-Saxon community thriving in Thirsk.

1086 Domesday Boolists two manors in Tresche with total value of 30 shillings.

1145 Market privileges confirmed, held weekly on Mondays to present day.

1174 Thirsk Castle destroyed by order of King Henry II.

1430 Rebuilding of St Mary's Parish Church begun - completed fifty years later.

1489 The people of the North refuse to pay new taxes. Earl of Northumberland slain.

1513 The room above the church porchis the home of a hermit.

1580 Draper Bartholomew Smith runs a stall in the Market Place and founds a business that continues in Thirsk for 400 years.

1723 Bell family become Lords of the Manor of Thirsk and build Thirsk Hall.

1755 Birth in Thirsk of Thomas Lord, founder of Lord's Cricket Ground.

1771 Disastrous floods in the town - also in 1826. 1879. 1930 and 2000.

1786 Thirsk is a posting stage for coaches calling at the Three Tuns and the Fleece.

1797 Admiral Nelson wounded in landing at Santa Cruz - his right arm is amputated by surgeon of HMS Theseus, Thirsk-born Thomas Eshelby.

1834 Gas Works built in Long Street - town lit by gas until 1906.

1838 Thirsk Union Workhouse built on Sutton Road.

1841 NE Railway opened. Line to Leeds opened in 1848 with station at Town End

1890 Lambert Memorial Hospital opened, named after a noted Thirsk physician.

1896 Market Clock built to mark 1893 wedding of the Duke of York and Princess May of Teck - later to become King George V and Queen Mary.

1907 Performances of the Thirsk Historical Play celebrate a thousand years of the town's history.

2000 Millenium celebrations. Another century remains to be added to the story!

Historical notes by courtesy of Thirsk museum.