Another view of the same fair – this time with the obligatory urchin posing in the shot.
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The Victoria County History – A History of the County of York North Riding: Volume 2 1923 – among the description of Loftus, includes:”A yearly wool fair is held in June.” However William White’s History and Gazetteer 1840 states: ”A market is held every Thursday, and fairs for cattle on June 24th and 25th, and on the Thursdays before May-day and Martinmas.” So although we appear to yet another image of Loftus Wool Fair – it is possible many other activities were going on at the same time, hence the variety of stalls and well dressed nature of all attending. Could this possibly include a hiring fair? Image courtesy of Olive Bennett.
The annual Loftus Wool Fair was the greatest event of the year for the town. It was held for two days, beginning on the Friday nearest to 25th June. On that occasion families from all round the area met in Loftus to join in the activities. The fair was held until the early 1930’s. The Cleveland Village Book written by the Cleveland Federation of Women’s Institutes tells us: ”Loftus has been a market town for many years and has always provided a focal point for the outlying areas. The ancient Wool Fair continued until fairly recently, the final one being in 1938, with the advent of the Wool Board. A committee was formed to revive the Wool Fair and in 1989 a very successful attempt was made to do so, although the inherent ’wool’ of the Wool Fair was replaced by a feeling of celebration of an old market rather than the selling of the fleeces as in the old days. There is a building: situated between the present Post Office and the Town Hall which was previously the wool warehouse.” Image courtesy of Joan Yeoman.
A view of the South side of the Market Place, the Market Place is obviously set out for a market or some sort of sale, with stalls on either side of the road. The image is from the book of views of Loftus; ”Cooke’s Views of Loftus and District”. Image courtesy of John G. Hannah.
An excellent image of the Golden Lion Hotel, the Regal Cinema and we can also see the Barclay’s Bank, quite a few pedestrians about but not much traffic. Believed to date from the 1950s, the Archive would welcome assistance in dating the image?
Although Eric Johnson who took this photograph could not remember the location, we asked if any of you recognised the building? Bryan Richardson told us: “It is the old Regal Cinema.” Image courtesy of Eric Johnson and thanks to Bryan Richardson for the confirmation.
Another photograph of the demolition of the Regal Cinema in the Market Place, Loftus. Image courtesy of Eric Johnson and thanks to Bryan Richardson for confirmation of the location.
Bryan Richardson rightly told us that the earlier pictures were of the Regal cinema in Loftus as it was being demolished. Terry Clarke tells us: “I wonder how many people knew there were two picture houses in Loftus this one as you can see; in the back ground was the Golden Lion. I remember it well, the first picture that was shown there was King Kong, also Bambi; when Bambi got shot I never cried but when King Kong finished I went blue murder!”
The new rail bridge with the concrete-work in place.
The new rail bridge starts to take shape on Carlin How bank, now the steel work is in place. |
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