The village is the site of an Iron Age fort called Oldbury Camp.[2] Older maps refer to this as a Roman camp and also refer to another Roman camp surrounding St Arilda's Church. [3]
Village attractions include a footpath near the river, a pub known as the Anchor Inn plus the village hall and two churches. It is also the home of Thornbury Sailing Club.
The Anchor Inn is British heritage listed building. It was originally built as a mill house in the 18th century and rewindowed in the early 19th century.[4]
The parish church is dedicated to St Arilda,[5] a local saint and martyr whose origins may lie in the fourth or fifth century.[6] The church is on a small hill (35m asl at ST609919) and is an excellent viewpoint, and, for river travellers, waymark.
^David Verey, Gloucestershire: the Vale and the Forest of Dean, The Buildings of England edited by Nikolaus Pevsner, 2nd ed. (1976) ISBN0-14-071041-8, p.314