Thirsk (GB)
Thirsk is a small market town and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. Historically part of the North Riding of Yorkshire, it is 8 miles (13 km) south-south east of the county town of Northallerton.
Archeological finds indicate that there was a settlement here around 500–600 BC. The town is mentioned twice in the Domesday Book as Tresche, in the Yarlestre hundred. At the time of the Norman invasion, the manor was split between Orm and Thor, local Saxon landowners. Afterwards, it was split between Hugh, son of Baldric and the Crown. Most of the land was granted thereafter to Robert de Mowbray, after whom the surrounding vale is named.
By 1145, what is now Old Thirsk was known as a borough, while the remaining land in the parish was subject to manorial rights. The manor continued to be in the possession of the Mowbrays, despite several claims, until the death of the 16th Lord Mowbray in 1476. With no direct succession, it passed to the daughter of Thomas de Mowbray, 1st Duke of Norfolk, who had married into the Berkeley family. Her son William de Berkeley, 1st Marquess of Berkeley then inherited it on her death. It remained with this family until 1723, when it was sold to Ralph Bell of Sowerby. It remained in the Bell family into the 20th century.
The name is derived from the Viking (Old Norse) word þresk meaning fen or lake.
As well as Thirsk being known for its 'distinctive' maltese cross postmark of 1840-44, Thirsk was issued with the 795 P.O. numeral in 1844
Postmark Examples
_a.jpg) 1843 cover Thirsk to Northallerton cancelled by the distinctive cross of Northallerton. Characterised by its heavy central diamond. |
_b.jpg) Reverse of 1843 cover showing Thirsk despatch and Northallerton receiver. |
_c.jpg)
