In 1870, he moved to 11 Broad Street,[4] where the shop remained as a family firm for many years, finally closing in 2002, at the time Oxford's oldest bookshop.

[5] Joseph Thornton died in Oxford and is buried there in St Sepulchre's Cemetery, with his second wife and daughter.

His son John Henry Thornton (1845–1924) is buried in the same cemetery with his wife and sister-in-law.

[6] His other son was James Thornton 1848 – 1894, publisher in High street.

This United Kingdom business-related biographical article is a stub.