Still a quiet little market town?

It is always useful to place the future in the context of the past. Black's Guide to Gloucestershire published in 1875 notes of Thornbury:

'This ancient town is charmingly situated on the eastern bank of the Severn, in the lower part of the fertile vale of Gloucester. It is a quiet little place, of little bustle or trade; but its weekly market brings together a goodly number of farmers and others with the produce of the surrounding country. Its history comprises few facts worth mentioning. Its principal associations are connected with the dukes of Buckingham, proprietors of the manor, of whom one, the builder of the castle was executed for treason.'

By 1897 the railway had arrived and in 1914 Kelly's Directory of Gloucestershire describes the town as:

'... a parish, market and union town, and formerly a municipal borough, and is the terminus of a branch from Yate of the Midland railway, 24 miles south-south-west from Gloucester, 11 north from Bristol, and 118 from London; .........
.... The town is lighted with gas by a company from works in Back Church lane, and is partially supplied with water by the West Gloucestershire Water Company and from local wells; the town is under the control of the Rural District Council.'

The Shell Guide to England published in 1970 describes:

'... a quiet little town with good views across the Severn. It has many interesting houses which witness its earlier importance and a broad street sweeping down to an early 16th-cent. church with an earlier buttressed and parapeted tower. This is a landmark for miles around.'

It is interesting to note the reference to 'little bustle or trade' in 1875 and a century later to a 'quiet little town'. Despite these references to a tranquil environment, the town was not averse to new technology as evidenced in the last years of the 19th century with the coming of the railway and gas lighting. And by 1970 the nuclear power station at Olbury had been commissioned.

So how do we see ourselves now? The Official Town Guide published in 2012 portrays Thornbury as:

'Jewel of the Severn Vale, an old market town off the beaten track, .... a popular home to many who work in the surrounding towns and the many nearby business parks. ..... the town has not lost any of its character or charm which is safeguarded by sensitive and closely monitored conservation, ensuring that it remains a typical English Market Town.'

We can be justifiably proud of our heritage but I can't help wondering whether we might be stretching the truth if we continue to describe ourselves as a market town. The cattle market closed long ago, the Saturday Market consists of a handful of stalls on the Library Car Park, the farmers' market is only on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month and occasionally there is a food fair in Castle Street. However, it is nice to see open recognition that we play a significant role as a dormitory town.