Is there any other Market Place so well photographed? This image is taken from a ”cropped” National Series postcard, showing the Market Place well with some traffic; with a caption stating it being in 1950.
Image courtesy of Jean Hall.
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A lovely framed postcard image of Loftus Market Place, the time on the clock can be clearly seen and the Loftus Urban District Council crest gives an idea of the period; pity there isn’t a date on it.
A different photograph of the Market Place, once again we can see the Westminster Bank, next to it is Hintons, and then Pullars, who were a dry cleaners. Looking at the way the men are dressed and the car makes me think that this photograph was taken in the 1950’s, do you agree? Joan Webster tells us: “Pullars were later bought out by Rapid Cleaners”. Thanks to Joan Webster for the update.
 Here we are at the Market Place again; it would seem that what was Dodds or MacKenzies shop is now the Council Offices, although the Chemist, Post Office and the National Provincial Bank are all present, then just in the photograph is Hintons. It hasn’t changed much over the years, the car in the picture makes me think the early 1950’s. Do you agree?
Do you remember Loftus Post Office looking like this? I do although not the ladies in the doorway; it was Mr Middleton ( I think they called him unless you know better) who worked there then. We now have identified the lady on the left as Florrie Woodall, she later married Thomas Jones c.1923 – he became the head gardener at Skelton Castle – and they were the parents of Deryck Jones. Updated information courtesy of Olive Bennett.
What a lovely photograph – taken in natural light – clearly showing the clerks busy at work. Notice the assay scales on the front counter, the pens in their inkwells and what looks like the only light source in the building – no wonder banks always closed at 3.00 pm! No bullet-proof glass in those days! This interior today is much changed, lighter and seemingly more spacious.
Yes it’s the Market Place, but looks to be a very old picture; in the foreground the fence is wooden and not iron as it was later. On the left of this photograph Fenby’s general dealers can be seen; this is now Barclays Bank. Next is the old cottages removed for the construction of the present Arbroath House, 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. Derick Pearson also advises us: ”This is older than one I have which was dated 1910 also my great-grandfather who had farms at Tranmire, Redmire and Low Wynns Farms, used to travel to Loftus for provisions and had an account with a shopkeeper before that time. He told me a tale some 55 years ago that there was once “A race between a camel and a lion Loftus Market Place. He let me ponder as a child for some time before telling me the truth; which was… There is Camel’s shop on the left of this photograph and the Golden Lion on the right of the photograph with Race’s shop in between. Hence the ‘Race’ between the ‘Camel’ and the ‘Lion’. So one of these may well be those shops.” Image courtesy of Joyce Dobson and Keith Bowers, also thanks to Derick Pearson for the information.
Now we can see Arbroath House as a three storey building on the left of the photograph, it looks as though the road has been made up and I love the car in the picture, could this be the 1930’s?
The title sums up the image, the cinema is here, Covell the butchers is pictured complete with Hillman Husky delivery van and bicycle in front of the shop. The bus looks like Kelly Watson’s Bedford bus; Eric Johnson tells us: “I remember Kelly Watson’s buses with the wooden seats, Ohhhh were they uncomfortable? You didn’t want to be travelling far on those!” Malcolm Covell tells us: “Yes it is my dad’s Hillman Husky in front of our shop, after that one we had a red one with a white roof (very posh!!); I think that was about 1956. Then in 1962 we got a black new model Morris Oxford. I think your date of 1950 is just a couple of years optimistic , I would put it at 1952. Yes I also think it’s Kelly Watson’s old Bedford bone shaker. I’ve got one or two photos somewhere I know I’ve got one from outside the angel inn looking across the empty market place to our shop with my dad and elder brother Dennis on the shop doorstep. It will be about 1955 / 56. Thanks to Malcolm Covell for the update.
Once an integral part of community life in Loftus (and under different names every rural village in England). This would have been – as well as the place to sell your wool – one of the hiring fairs which shaped a young man’s life for the next 12 months. Now, with a brief revival in the 1980s, another attempt was made in 2013 with the intention to attempt the Fair annually. The Image Archive hopes the organisers are successful. |
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