Originally emerging as a Tudor era manor estate and orchard, Thorney Close was purchased by Sunderland authorities in the late 1940s and transformed into one of first its post-war housing states.

However, by the Tudor era the name "Thornye Close" appears in historical record, having been owned by three times Mayor of Newcastle Upon Tyne Richard Hodgson and willed to his son Robert.

[1] This coincides with reports of the former manor, "Thorney Close Hall" being built in the Tudor Period around 1546, of which was part of the township of Silksworth under the parish of Bishopwearmouth.

According to the Office of National Statistics Census 2021", Thorney Close ranks joint 2nd with Plains Farm for deprivation within Sunderland at 68.9%, falling from 74.7% in 2011.

The estate was the feature location of a short-horror story "The Curse of Thorney Close" which embedded themes of poverty, crime and desperation into a tale of witchcraft in the area.