Thornton village lies to the west of Bradford, into which it was incorporated around 1899, but was mentioned in the Domesday Book of the 11th Century, when it had been laid waste by William the Conqueror's 'harrying of the north', punishment for an uprising against the Norman invaders of 1066.

Its elevation, poor soils, isolation from major transport routes and rainfall of over 34 inches a year limited farm production, but the presence of coal, iron and sandstone, the development of turnpike roads and the coming of the railways enabled Thornton to share in the prosperity generated by the 19th Century wool worsted trade. The increasing use of steam powered mills (at the expense of the former cottage-industry production methods) concentrated production in the valleys of the city centre, and foreign imports, the second world war and closure of the railways eventually relegated Thornton to its present status as a residential suburb of Bradford.

Thornton's most famous residents were the Brontës. The Rev Patrick Brontë became the incumbent of Thornton Chapel in 1815, and Charlotte, Branwell, Emily and Anne Brontë were born at 74, Market Street, Thornton before the family moved to Haworth.

The preserved centre of the village retains the character of a typical Pennine village, with stone built houses with stone flagged roofs. The surrounding areas consist of more modern housing, still isolated from the rest of the city by green fields.