This image from a newspaper cutting is clearly dated 1910. It is obviously a different year from the images elsewhere on the site, based upon style of dress and arrangements of the stalls.
From a slightly later date we have a personal reminiscence of the Wool Fair from Mrs L .E. Johnson of Loftus, she says: ”The fair was a diversion in the 1920’s which we all enjoyed. The Wool Fair was an annual event in June. The cattle and poultry, etc., were sold in the recreation field in Micklow Lane. We used to rush home from school at dinner time to see all the animals because it was all over when school finished at 4 o’clock. On one side of the Market Place (no busses or cars then) there were produce stalls including a fish and chip van. It was fascinating to see the owner stoking up the firfe under the pans. In the corner where the telephone now stands there were two swinging boats and a roundabout. On the opposite side of the market, John Dawson Robinson sold farm machinery (on the corner last occupied by the Post Office), George Dale sold crockery and Charley Turner, a popular character, had his stall outside the Golden Lion Hotel.”
Cutting from a collection gifted to the Archive, most of the cuttings coming from the Northern Echo; although this image could be from a Loftus postcard producer.
Loftus Market Place early 20th century; after Messrs Dodds took over from Mackenzie’s ownership of the shop on the corner of North Road. With plenty of free manure for the roses on the highway.
Dating from 1908 this image includes J. R. ’White Hat ’ Robinson, standing behind the cart. He was the Ironmonger in the Market Place – listed in 1893 Kelly’s Directories – Robinson Brothers also owned the brass and iron foundry (Zetland Foundry) on Liverton Road.
Image and information courtesy of Alan Richardson.
Loftus Market Place; we believed this to be the Proclamation of George 5th, but it was in fact the Celebrations for the Coronation of George Vth 22nd June 1911.
Veterans of the Great War, mustered at Loftus War Memorial. Many are still young men with memories still fresh of the horror they endured, as they honour fallen comrades. Several wear the 1914/15 Star, meaning they served as volunteers. Norman Patton tells us: ”One lady who was definitely at this parade was Elizabeth Ann Hicks, wife of the late William Hicks, of 29 Tees Street, Loftus. They had two sons who went ’Missing in Action’ in World War I. They were William Arthur: remembered at the Menin Gate and Charles Edwin: remembered at Thiepval. Both are also remembered on the memorial at Loftus. Elizabeth had a daughter, Alice May Hicks, who served with the Military Nursing Service in Egypt during the same war. She met and fell in love with Thomas Brooke Stanley who had been injured while fighting with the 10th Australian Light Horse Infantry at Hill 60 in Gallipoli, where he was decorated for his bravery. After the war ended, Tom came to Loftus to seek permission to marry Alice. She followed him back to Australia where they married and settled in Brunswick Junction, Western Australia; and together they became successful farmers. Elizabeth Ann Hicks and her family had made huge sacrifices in that war. She was my great grandmother.” “We Shall Remember Them.” Norman further advised: “My great grand mother’s maiden name was Elizabeth Ann Cammell. She was the daughter of Michael who was a veterinary who practiced in Sculcoates near Hull. Ann married William Hicks who’s parents had farmed at Forresters Lodge in Little Fryup Dale. William was a time served carpenter and Ann was a milliner and dressmaker who spent most of her life assisting her brother Charles Cammell and his wife Albina who had the business next to the Golden Lion in the market place. Charles and his family lived at 6 Zetland Terrace.”
Thelma reports: “Charles Edwin Hicks was my grandfather and I have been researching our family tree and am thrilled to get some more information about great grandparents. We have a photograph of my Grandfather and are checking out his war records. We were always told he was killed by a sniper whilst delivering a message. He was a good runner. I have recently been contacted by relatives in Australia keen for information so will pass on the news his sister also emigrated to Australia.”
Image courtesy of Alan Richardson; many thanks to Norman Patton and Thelma for the supporting information.
A rainy Remembrance Day with the cenotaph Parade in the late 1920s; note the decorated cart at the right of the photograph – purpose unknown – can anyone help with details.
An early 20th century photograph of Kilton Mill. The old road layout at the bottom of Mill Bank is clearly seen, the gentleman sitting on the wall would now be in the middle of the new road; the mill would still be working at this date.
Loftus Hall; built in the the area now known as Hall Grounds, Loftus. Around 1840 Sir Robert Dundas decided to build a new hall and enclosed a piece of land stretching from the bottom to the top of Church Bank, along the High Street veering to the left of Jasmine Cottage and then back to the woods almost as far as the mill, effectively cutting off Liverton Road, which ran down behind the present library. The route to Liverton was re-sited on Station Road.. Apart from being a local landowner, Sir Robert Dundas was also proprietor of the Lofthouse Alum Works.Peter Appleton has advised: “Sir Robert Lawrence Dundas (1780-1844) inherited the manor of Loftus from his father, Sir Thomas Dundas (1741-1820). By 1829, he had moved his home to Upleatham Hall. His land agent for the manor of Loftus then had use of Loftus Hall as their home. Communication between Sir Robert and his agent was carried out through a memo book system. Sir Robert would write his questions on one page and the agent would place his answers on the opposite page, followed by any requests. On his next visit, Sir Robert would respond to the agent’s requests and then add his own questions, and so it went on. At least one of these memo books has survived and is in the archives at Northallerton. A brief perusal of it indicated that Sir Robert visited Loftus approximately once a week, sometimes more frequently. When Sir Robert Lawrence Dundas died, he passed his manor of Loftus to his nephew, Sir Thomas Dundas (1795-1893), son of his elder brother Sir Lawrence Dundas (1766-1839).”
Image courtesy of Alan Richardson, additional information courtesy of Jean Wiggins; thanks also to Peter Appleton for the update details on the Dundas family.
Primitive Methodist Chapel and school at Mill bank top, Loftus. This fine building had a short life; it was destroyed in a landslip in 1927. There are images elsewhere on the Archive of the aftermath of the slip. Adam Cuthbert commented: “Never seen a photograph of this before. It looks like this is where the park is now at top of the hill? Are there any photographs of the petrol station that was on the other side of the road?”
Image courtesy of Pat Bennison, thanks to Adam Cuthbert for the update.
Realigning the road at the bottom of Mill Bank Loftus, around 1958. With Kelly Watsons Bus (Saltburn Motor Services ) in the dip. The bridge was widened at the same time.
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