A very early pre Great War view of the Market Place showing what was the then Martin’s Bank on the extreme left; with the attached shop of Fenby’s. Next door being Arbroath House and then Riley’s emporium (this was replaced by the Regal Cinema). We then come to Charles T. Cammell’s shop, next is William Maxwell Race’s premises followed by the Golden Lion Hotel. These premises are the source of the old joke about a Race between a Camel and a Lion in Loftus Market Place.
A well attended Remembrance Day Service, believed to be 1924. Note the numbers of gentlemen wearing medals, World War I was still vivid in the memories of all those attending. Image courtesy of Joyce Hore.
An early view of the end of Zetland Road, from an advertising poster, more recently known as ‘Tony Gallagher’s hairdressing salon’. Eric Johnson has advised: “Smithfield House became C. J. Dodds after moving from market place. Name was on cast iron sign above doorway.” We are unsure of date as yet, perhaps somebody out there can advise. Keith Bowers has assisted with: “Smithfield House were running a Summer Sale campaign in the Whitby Gazette July 1917.“
Image courtesy of Geoff Patton, thanks to Eric Johnson, Keith Bowers and Neil Graham for the updates.
A quieter view of the Zetland Road and Westfield Terrace corner, taken before the traffic lights were installed. Also the various shops which then graced the end of Zetland Road. Much changed today, although the chemists remains with a much less imposing frontage. Ben Willis comments: “I am Grandson of Ruby Middleton (formally Trinder) who inherited “Trinders” (centre shop in photograph) from her father John Trinder. Did you know that one of Trinders curved entrance windows (as you can see in the photo) was one of a very few windows to survive World War II bombs in Loftus. The window remained intact until Coral the bookmakers bought the shop about 10 years ago, which they demolished and replaced with the modern bookmakers shop window… Sad.” Whilst Julie Riddiough adds: “Oh my god at last a photograph of Trinders shop, I have been searching for one for years. It was my great great great grandads shop originally. His daughter Kate was my great great grandmother. We have never been able to find a picture of the shop, I was due to go see Ruby a few years ago whilst doing the family tree, but she wasn’t well enough. My nana still has a china cabinet from Trinders shop that they were allowed to pick as a wedding present.”
Image courtesy of Ray Brown, thanks to Ben Willis and Julie Riddiough for the updates.
A poster advertising Richardson’s – Publishers and Printers – this description should also include postcards, many are featured on the site. They occupied the premises previously used by Fords and then Martin McColls on West Road. The poster dates from the 1880s.
A different view of the Alum House at Hummersea, obviously this building as it became more derelict attracted the Victorian and post Victorian photographers. ”Gothic” buildings attracted considerable interest in the early part of the twentieth century, hence the frequency of images of some buildings or scenes. Mary Bielby who kindly supplied this postcard tells us: ”Our family received this card from Mrs Lincoln (a family friend) whilst in North Ormesby Hospital (another building also sadly disappeared) whilst she recovered, but she could not spell our name correctly”.
This view of the High Street, from the end of Arlington Street, shows two ladies viewing the shop window, whilst possibly preparing to push the pram up to the Market Place. With the weight of prams in those days, a good push!
A very mysterious postcard entitled The Fountain Loftus. It predates the building of the War Memorial above it. It certainly appears dilapidated compared to the images of the unveiling in 1922. From the girls dresses a Victorian or Edwardian date is indicated. It seems when the Memorial was built the fountain underwent a complete makeover. Mary Bielby tells us: ”It is hard to tell if the War Memorial is on this picture. Notice says ”water not safe for drinking”, but used by our families in 1950s in summer when taps dried up – before Scaling Dam was ready – water looked very clean, tasted okay and we survived! Dad and several other users lived into their 90s! The children appear to be from a time when little boys were dressed in the same clothes as girls until the age of seven, later age five. Postcard published by Skilbeck Stationers in Zetland Road, Loftus (where Zetland Road Co-op now stands)”.
Does anyone have information of it’s original construction and when.
Image courtesy of Mary Bielby, to whom also thanks for the additional comment.
An election meeting on behalf of Herbert Samuel, Liberal candidate. Elected to Parliament in 1902, He had several posts in the Government, including Home Secretary, and Postmaster General, very appropriately standing next to Loftus Post Office. Mary Bielby tells us:”Despite popular belief Leon Brittain was not the the first Loftus MP to hold a Cabinet office, Herbert Samuel (Mr or Sir!) was about sixty or seventy years ahead of him!” Herbert Samuel was knighted in 1920; the placard proclaims ’Boots instead of Beer’, perhaps he is being supported by the Temperance Movement.
Bill Danby in ”Skelton-in-Cleveland in History” tells us: ” The Labour MP, Keir Hardie made a speech at Marske in favour of a Labour candidate in Cleveland and the Miners Association held a meeting in Saltburn, but in the end no representative was put forward. This displeased many in the Independent Labour Party, one of their leaders calling Samuel a ”plutocratic Jew”, because he was an Oxford man, who had been left a lot of money by his banker father. In the end it was a 2 horse race with Herbert Samuel gaining 5.834 votes to the Conservative, Geoffrey Drage’s 3,798. Samuel retained the Cleveland seat until 1918, serving later as Postmaster General and then Home Secretary. In the following years he was High Commissioner to Palestine 1920/25 and involved in the creation of Israel, led an inquiry into the Mining Industry, leader of the Liberal Party, made a Viscount in 1937 and died at the age of 93 in 1963.”
Image courtesy of Mary Bielby and many thanks for the update regarding Cabinet Ministers. Also many thanks to Bill Danby for information from the Skelton website.
Believed to be from the late 1930’s when Loftus Athletic (or Albion) Football Club won the North Riding Cup. Decorations could have been put up by David Shaw (father) with sons John and younger brother David. Shaws lived at no. 48 High Street, but would be allowed to decorate no. 49 the home of their landlord Mr Espiner. Mary believes that the younger David possibly played football but this might also have been local pride that promoted this display. Mary also tell us: ”We had similar decoration to both houses to celebrate in 1953 for the Coronation”. Now adays you would probably need permission!
Image and information kindly supplied by Mary Bielby.
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