Lovely view of Zetland Road with the shops and lots of traffic here today, maybe the weekend. What date do you think it would be, about the 1950’s?
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A Skilbeck postcard from about 1948, viewing Zetland Road towards West Road. The butcher’s shop on the left was Featherstone’s, next the Misses Griffiths (Ladies wear), then Daisy Dairy, the opening to the rear of Zetland Road, Maggie Rivets (Hairdressers), Medds (Cakes and Confectionery), Lengs (Ladies and Gents Hairdressers), Gartons (Shoes) and lastly the Cosy Cafe (Violet Husband). Across the road started with Prossers, then Walter Wilson, Goldbys, Skilbeck’s Stationers (and of postcard fame), Trinders, Swales (Fruiterers), entrance to the Commercial Hotel, John Dawson Robinsons (Iron- mongers and hardware), Eatons (Furnishings, etc) and finally Leggs (Ladies and Gents outfitter). Derick Pearson tells us: “Eatons started in the early 1920s as a Pawnbrokers on North Road and moved down to Zetland Road; they used this shop as a Draper, Furnishers, Fancy Goods and Carpet suppliers and were rivals to Trinders; Uptons took them over in the 1960s. Legg Bros did a Mobile service taking items to the local farming community and outlying villages too. Golbys and this was later taken over by Walter Wilson as they extended the shop.” Image courtesy of Eric Norton; after consultations thanks for updates to Derick Pearson, Jean Wiggins and others.
Another Skilbeck postcard of Zetland Road; this time looking up the road from the crossroads, about 1948. Legg Bros; on the corner, were Outfitters and Drapers, occupying the premises now Harrops Pharmacy. A very different street to the present day, few of the shop frontages are unchanged and none of the original commercial enterprises remain. Whilst on the subject of changes; traffic today would preclude any attempts to park with such abandon. Image courtesy of Eric Norton.
Do you remember when Harrop’s chemist looked like this? Wish I weighed as much now as I did on those scales. Thomas Harrop was born in 1914 and educated at Guisborough Grammar School, he served a five-year apprentice at Prosser’s 10 Zetland Road, (do you remember that shop; where Breckon and Shaw’s used to be?) He qualified in 1939, marrying in 1940 he opened the chemist’s in 1957. Sadly Tom passed away in 1980 the shop then was owned by Mr Ray Silver, who served the people of Loftus for many years. Still bearing the trading name of ‘Harrops Pharmacy’ it is now part of Oakside Pharmacy Ltd; it continues to play an important role in the community. Image and information courtesy of Ray Silver.
A Frith series postcard of the Town Hall; the card bears a postmark of 1968.  A picture post card of Loftus Congregational Church; the writer of the card was not very impressed with it! It is now known that this card and many others of Loftus were produced by T. C. Booth, the Congregational minister. Image courtesy of Mrs Sakelaropoulos.  Yes I know we have this one but I thought it is rather a different view of the church; looking at it from the side rather than the front. Image courtesy of Ray Silver.
Not a very clear picture of this notable feature on the main thoroughfare of Loftus, on the original posting the writing could not be seen clearly; by adjusting the contrasts it is possible to read more of the test. It is obviously taken from an edited letter card or possibly a poster, the Archive continues to hope for a better image. This image does show the outdoor pulpit very well; as the former church fell into disrepair it was advised that the outside pulpit be preserved as there are very few left in the country; but sadly the vandals are taking no notice; today all that remains is the floor of the pulpit and a portion of the original metal balustrade.
A row of rather up-market houses – considering that the average miner lived in a two-up-two-down with his entire family if he was lucky. As an example the 1911 Census lists residents various professions including, an auctioneer, a pawnbroker, Rev. Thomas Colledge Booth lived at number 5, a railway engine driver, retired farmers or widows of the same, the Registrar of Births and Deaths, Tyler Tyers the Primitive Methodist Minister lived at number 8 and living at number 12 was Alexander MacKenzie whose Drapery and Grocery store was at that time on the corner of the Market Place.Number 13 and the last on the row at that time was occupied by Thomas Henry Tarbit Loftus’s Surveyor and Sanitary Inspector; obviously the address to live at and even today the row presents as a well-built and pleasant row of houses. Image courtesy of Marjorie Magor.
A good image of these upper class terraced houses (fancy facing bricks) with the usual inquisitive urchins posing for the photographer. |
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