Polly Thorpe was a resident of the area well known to the people living in Coronation Street. On a snowy day in March 1964, she called at the corner shop which was displaying a card in the window advertising an ottoman and a bedding box for sale, only to be told by Florrie Lindley that Mrs Hammond, the owner had sold them, but she had forgotten to throw away the card. Mrs Thorpe went on her way, being greeted by Albert Tatlock, who had to be reminded by Florrie who she was - her husband used to be at the rope works and Albert remembered that he had had some "funny business" with a policewoman!
Polly was an old acquaintance of Ena Sharples and Martha Longhurst and heard of the latter's death while queuing in the chip shop one night in May 1964. The next day she came to the vestry with her things, eager to help Ena lay Martha out. When she heard that she'd already been beaten to the task, she paid her respects to Ena and left.
- The character was billed "Mrs Thorpe" for her first episode and as "Polly Harding" in the "TV Times" billing for the second episode in which she appeared.