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 Do you remember Mr Grier the photographer on Arlington Street? Well by signing this he has kindly given us the date and even the time this photograph. John Grier Thompson tells us: ”I remember Mr Grier; he was my grandad! My mum ran the Arlington Studio with him where they specialised in weddings. I have many examples of his work at home, and have also inherited the enthusiasm for photography.” Image courtesy of Wendy Stokoe and many thanks to John Grier Thompson for that update.  Yes Stokoe’s garage as it used to be many years ago.  An Aerofilms series postcard view of what was then Loftus Senior School (later Loftus Junior School and presently unused) as well as West Road and beyond. Note the allotment gardens where Coronation Park is now, as well as the absence of any housing on what is now Coronation Road. Image courtesy of Joyce Hore and Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum  The waterfall doesn’t look like we see it now; the caption reads ”Loftus waterfall” and is taken from a Cooke’s Fancy Bazaar postcard, being postmarked 1904 and may possibly date from pre the present one built of brick. Derek Pearson suggests: ”We used to call this the “Steps” in the “Narrows” before it was constructed with brick/concrete. The photograph was taken from a lower standpoint again than the scene in front. Espiner’s waterfall descended with a lesser number of levels.”
 A pleasant view of Deepdale Wood, dating from the 1900s; another view to prove that the area was not all steel works and ironstone mines. Image courtesy of the Pem Holliday Collection; taken from ”Cooke’s Views of Loftus and District” an album of views around Loftus produced by Cooke’s Fancy Bazaar of West Road, Loftus.
The shop and house in 1984. It changed hands again, once or twice, over the years and the shop has now gone; there’s a garden in its place. Image courtesy of John Roberts.  A picture post card of Loftus Congregational Church; the writer of the card was not very impressed with it! It is now known that this card and many others of Loftus were produced by T. C. Booth, the Congregational minister. Image courtesy of Mrs Sakelaropoulos.  Yes I know we have this one but I thought it is rather a different view of the church; looking at it from the side rather than the front. Image courtesy of Ray Silver.
Not a very clear picture of this notable feature on the main thoroughfare of Loftus, on the original posting the writing could not be seen clearly; by adjusting the contrasts it is possible to read more of the test. It is obviously taken from an edited letter card or possibly a poster, the Archive continues to hope for a better image. This image does show the outdoor pulpit very well; as the former church fell into disrepair it was advised that the outside pulpit be preserved as there are very few left in the country; but sadly the vandals are taking no notice; today all that remains is the floor of the pulpit and a portion of the original metal balustrade.
A row of rather up-market houses – considering that the average miner lived in a two-up-two-down with his entire family if he was lucky. As an example the 1911 Census lists residents various professions including, an auctioneer, a pawnbroker, Rev. Thomas Colledge Booth lived at number 5, a railway engine driver, retired farmers or widows of the same, the Registrar of Births and Deaths, Tyler Tyers the Primitive Methodist Minister lived at number 8 and living at number 12 was Alexander MacKenzie whose Drapery and Grocery store was at that time on the corner of the Market Place.Number 13 and the last on the row at that time was occupied by Thomas Henry Tarbit Loftus’s Surveyor and Sanitary Inspector; obviously the address to live at and even today the row presents as a well-built and pleasant row of houses. Image courtesy of Marjorie Magor.
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