A different view of the station, showing the bank going up to Liverton Mines.
Image courtesy of Joyce Dobson.
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The Ebenezer Chapel (on North Road) and the new Congregational Church, Loftus; both no longer in such a magnificent condition – the Archive wondered if the organ still existed and if the donor was the famous Carnegie; if so then the organ should have been preserved. Douglas Bruce advises: “Indeed it was the famous Andrew Carnegie; the organ was shipped to Germany in 2006, and bought in 2012 by St Bonifatius RC Church in Giessen. It was used as a transitional instrument while the new organ on the west gallery was being built, but people reckoned it could have been built specifically for the Bonifatiuskirche and wondered whether the new instrument was really necessary. The Hopkins organ stands at the front of the church and is used to accompany the choir (for which the gallery is unsuitable) as well as various services where the congregation is predominantly at the front of the church.”
Image from a postcard produced by the Rev. Colledge Booth and many thanks to Douglas Bruce for the update.
A lovely clear photograph, the road hasn’t changed much other than you couldn’t stand today where the two young girls are, too much traffic. Eric Johnson informs us that it is definitely pre 1906 and the building of the Congregational Chapel by Mr Hebditch. Image courtesy of Keith Bowers and many thanks to Eric for the update.
Once again a nice crisp image of Zetland Road from the end of West Road. Interestingly the present day derelict Congregational Chapel has not been erected, so dates this image as pre 1906. This view is again taken from the ”Cooke’s Views of Loftus and District”. Image courtesy of John G. Hannah.
This view of the Temperance Hall on West Road in Loftus comes from the ”Cooke’s Views of Loftus and District”. The Temperance Movement was an attempt to stop the decline in the morals and christian behaviour of the British worker. It had a strong following among the employers, who were losing work-days through drunkenness and unruly behaviour. They built this fine building in Loftus to further their aims. It was also ”friendly” society; where, for a weekly subscription, the members were insured against illness and hard times. Today the building is the ”Dole Office” building or more properly The Department of Works and Pensions (DWP). Eric Johnson tells us: ”The dedication stone for the Temperance Hall is weathering and becoming illegible, I can make out the following inscription, but some of the letters and numbers may not be correct, or missing. Image courtesy of John G. Hannah.  A very popular place to photograph, West Road again with the Congregational Chapel in the centre of the picture. Pretty much contemporary with the previous post.
Must be a sunny day as the awnings are out over the shops, we can see the pavements – but is the road a tarmac one yet? I don’t think you could stand and talk at the cross roads today as the men in the photo are doing. Image courtesy of Mrs Sakelaropoulos.
A different and more modern view of West Road, there is now a proper road although not very busy. Image courtesy of Joan Jemson.
Obviously a posed photograph judging by the number of bystanders; this postcard image was part of a range of views of Loftus streets taken by George Skilbeck. Whitecliffe Terrace in Loftus was one of the four terraces of houses built to accommodate workers at the Whitecliffe Mine. Simon Chapman’s ”Whitecliffe Ironstone Mine” states: ”Houses in blocks of six were rented for 21 years @ £60 per annum – located on the south side of West Road, Loftus. Whitecliffe Terrace, Newcomen Terrace and Dundas Street.”
What a different view of the site we can now view daily? Charlie Stokoe for many years occupied the garage and as well as petrol sales, he was an agent for Saab cars! His garage was one of two on the main street of Loftus, the other Fletcher’s vanished into the valley in a landslip some years ago. Derick Pearson advises us: ”I started to served my time here before Charlie Stokoe had the garage with a man called Con Shippey. He was also married into the wealthy Goldsborough family I think they called them. They had the Picture house (cinema)at Saltburn and on some occasions we had to go there to do jobs. He was a funny chap, he used to make jokes and laugh greatly at them. We dare not do any other but laugh even though some times we didn’t get it as they say. He reminded me greatly of the comedian John Clease. Similar in stature and character. Some years later when Charlie had it the head Mechanic was a grand lad called Trevor and he was a very knowledgable man with the Saab and any other vehicles. He ran a Saab v4? for years that was immaculate. Although I lost contact I believe he and his wife possibly ran the garage for some time after Charlie left.” Whilst Martyn Richardson tells us: “My Grandma and Grandad lived at the opposite end of the block on West Road and as a little lad I was always along at Stokoe’s talking to Trevor and asking him about cars. “Why is this, what is that, what are these” …. generally getting in the way and being a pest; but Trevor always had time for me and called me “Young Tink” if I remember correctly. I even got time off school to get to the launch of the “new” Saab 900, where the actor George Lazenby (007 in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service) did the unveiling.” Image courtesy of Joan Jemson and many thanks to Derick Pearson, Martin Richardson and Callum Duff for the updates. |
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