Thorganby, a village steeped in history, finds its first mention in the Domesday Book as Torgrembi, under the lordship of Ralph Paynel. Its name is a blend of the personal name Thorgrim and the Old Norse word 'by', signifying a farmstead or village. A centrepiece of the village's heritage is St. Helen's Church, originally recorded in 1228 with Robert de Meynell as its first patron. The current structure of this Grade I listed building hails from the 15th century, nestled within the ecclesiastical parish of Thorganby in the Diocese of York. Geographically, Thorganby is positioned on the west bank of the River Derwent, directly opposite the Lower Derwent National Nature Reserve. Its administrative history saw it first in the Ouse and Derwent Wapentake of the East Riding of Yorkshire, then in the Selby District of North Yorkshire, until North Yorkshire became a unitary authority in 2023. The village's connectivity evolved over time. Initially, the nearest railway station was 5 miles away in Escrick during the 19th century. However, in 1913, Thorganby inaugurated its own station on the Derwent Valley Light Railway, linking York and Selby. This station served passengers until 1926 and continued for goods traffic until 1964. Demographically, Thorganby has seen a steady increase in residents, from 241 in the 2001 census to 330 in 2011, with a further estimated rise to 350 by 2015, according to North Yorkshire County Council. Adding to its charm, the village gained a moment of celebrity when film star Robert Redford visited a local pub in March 2011 during his trip to the UK to promote the Sundance London Film Festival