Dating from 1139 Thornton Abbey was constructed at the behest

of by William le Gros, the Earl of Yorkshire. As part of Henry XIII's dissolution of monastries, the abbey was turned into a secular college. It later fell into disrepair and was abandoned with all that remains today is the large gatehouse that can be seen to the right of the nameboard in this photograph. The grand wooden nameboard in this view still exists today with an identical view to mine seen here appearing on Wikepedia's page for the station!