This picture shows the Town Hall to perfection, the lovely entrance and the clock. Did you know there are only three faces to the clock? The face that should have looked South was omitted as there was no one to see it.
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I think this must be the oldest image we’ve got of this well shot scene, again sadly depleted by age. Bromide prints deteriorate in sunlight, they store best in an envelope in a dark drawer – but then why take the picture in the first place! The Archive will hopefully find a better or even perhaps the original of this postcard view of a notable Loftus building.
A lovely postcard of the lodge, built in 1869 by the nephew of Sir Robert Lawrence Dundas; at the entrance to the hall, the gates have long since gone and other houses have been built in Hall Grounds. An impressive view of the Town Hall, with the Lodge at the entrance to Hall Grounds as the gated road shown is still known today. Postcard by Cooke’s Fancy Bazaar, Loftus. The architecture of the lodge bears a remarkable resemblance to that of the Town Hall, which was erected in 1879. Perhaps Lord Zetland was so impressed by the Lodge that he commissioned the same architect to design the Town Hall later. The gates led onto a drive that curved past the stable block round to the main house. Image courtesy of John G. Hannah, additional information courtesy of Jean Wiggins.
Another postcard from the John Thomas Ross photographer and postcard producer of Whitby; f Hall Lodge and the Town Hall taken from the usual vantage point. Image courtesy of Ruth Wilcock.
One of my favourite photographs although not as clear as it might be; the lodge house entrance to Hall Grounds, Loftus. It hasn’t changed much over the years.  Believed to be Harry Wrightson blacksmith at Loftus Forge in 1900, with John Ward Hopper (who was apprenticed to Harry Wrightson) on the left. John Ward Hopper was the Grandfather of Maurice Toulson of the Loftus Town Crier. Loftus Forge was built by Lord Zetland at the turn of the century, in what was then his timber yard, with his estate office nearby. The forge was rented to Mr John Wrightson for £15 per year. John Smith advised us: “I’d question this as Harry wasn’t born until 1901 in Guisborough (unless there is another Harry). It might be his Father, John or the date may be incorrect? Harry was my Grandmother’s cousin and I remember going to stay at the forge in the 1960’s.” The gentleman holding the horse is unknown. Can you help? Image courtesy of Olive Bennett and thanks to John Smith and Mary Thewlis for the updates.
The cottages constructed in 1868, were part of the re-development of Loftus by Lord Dundas (Zetland); they remain today facing onto the main street, although the rambling rose (?) is no longer present. The cottages were only a small part of the development of Loftus as a town undertaken by Lord Zetland, many of which are still very obvious today. Image courtesy of a Loftus Town Crier calendar, dating information courtesy of Eric Johnson.
The caption says Loftus Woods so that is where it must be, but where in the woods? It looks more like an atomic landscape to me, but the reflections in the water are lovely. Alan Gill believes: ”The photograph has been taken just down from the waterfall, and facing away from it.” Thanks to Alan Gill for the update.
This image of the butchery department of Loftus Co-operative Store with all the staff members standing proudly in their clean overalls; it must have been for a special occasion. Although the building is still there we don’t see it looking like this any more.
Loftus Co-operative Store in the days of long white aprons, no check-out and no pre-packaged produce! I don’t suppose anybody knows any of these immaculately turned out shop assistants? Lorraine Williams tells us: “From at least 1890 the Fenby family ran a fruiterers business in Loftus probably until the 1920s. Skelton Fenby, one of the son’s, was the Loftus co-op manager in 1911 when he was 41 but I don’t know how long he remained there. He later moved to Darlington and opened a drapery store and eventually became Mayor of Darlington in 1947.” Image courtesy of the Pem Holliday Collection, Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum and others; also than ks to Lorraine Williams for that update.. |
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