This view predates the reconstruction of the drinking fountain, for the great war memorial. Steps were built at each side of the fountain, with new railings. Further down the wall can be seen the opening for the steps from the road up to High Side; this was removed after a tragic accident to a child. Lucie Wood comments: “I have recently purchased a house on the High Street and I’m interested in photographs of yesteryear. I’m from the south and Loftus is such a special place.” Mervyn Brown advises: “Unlike Lucie, I’m from the north but moved south, born in Liverton Mines 92 years ago. My uncle, Maxwell Race owned a well known Cafe/Bakery in Loftus Market Place, at the time (pre -war, I believe and pre World War I as well) between the Lion hotel and a wine shop Cammels. The saying was then that it was the only place you would see a Race between a Lion and a Camel. He sold out to make way for a new cinema which was built on that site and moved down the High Street to what was then known as Dam End and had a shop last on the right, on the corner. Happy days! Enjoy Loftus. I did though we left when I was 12 years old and after several subsequent moves arrived in Pinner where I now live.” Ian Harrison adds: “Hiya, Mervyn do your remember Tom Wren’s shop at Dam End. My mother and her family lived above when she was a small girl. She once told me that her and her sibling’s once went into one of Tom Wren’s rooms which was out of bounds really and to their amazment was full of Zulu gear: shield’s, arrows, and head gear.No doubt all from the Boer war.”
Image courtesy Joyce Dobson and Keith Bowers; thanks to Lucie Wood, Mervyn Brown and Ian Harrison for the updates.
A view of William E. Greer’s photographic studio on Arlington Street after the addition of the veranda blinds. How smart the premises look. The building today no longer sports such attractive features; with today’s trafic levels it would soon be more than ‘shop soiled’!
Approaching from Loftus this is the scene as you reach North Terrace; the dress would be somewhat different today but the houses haven’t changed much. Adam Cuthbert tells us: ”I recall viewing No 1 North Terrace as a possible home and found the original side oven still in situ!”.
Image courtesy of Joyce Dobson & Keith Bowers and thanks to Adam Cuthbert for that update.
An aerial view of Loftus, one of a series taken by Mr Sakaropoulus in the 1970s. This image shows East Crescent, the Arlington estate and on westwards towards the Market Place. How green and verdant the area looks, ‘garden city’ like?
East Loftus Pad ’n’ Can or lodging house was taken down in the early 1940’s, being replaced by Esk Terrace. In the 1911 Census the boarding house was managed by Harry Bowers and there were 18 residents, these included bricklayers, hawkers, labourers and miners. A full house!
Image courtesy of Mrs Sakaropoulus, additional information courtesy of Keith Bowers.
A Bruce postcard view of West Road, Loftus post marked 1904; prior to the building on the south side by George Hebditch, note the still un-metaled road and the casual attitude to possible traffic by the onlookers. No. 26 West Road is the fourth house down in the second block of houses on the right hand side of this image; next door to the present day dentist’s at no. 27. Norman Patton advised: ” I have a birth certificate for my Mother’s Auntie Alice May Hicks who was born in No 26 in 1895. According to the 1891 census, her parents were already living at 26 West Road where they were the first residents. They had lived at 2 Westfield Terrace at the previous census in 1881 so we have the decade in which those houses were completed!”
Image courtesy of Ann Wedgewood and Keith Bowers, thanks to Norman Patton for the update.
Originally believed to be the waterfall in Espiner’s (Hancock’s) wood, our postcard view is undated; but is possibly from the early 1900s. Jonathan Dales suggested: “This waterfall maybe in Handale wood.” Bryan Richardson has confirmed with: “This waterfall is the one in Handale Wood about 300 yards towards Handale from Slaters Banks. The waterfall in Espiner’s wood is flatter than the one in Handale. The railway embankment would also be in the background in Espiner’s. The waterfall is now about one meter lower than it is in the photograph.”
Image courtesy of Ann Wedgewood and Keith Bowers; thanks to Jonathan Dales and Bryan Richardson for the updates.
A different view of the Alum House showing Cattersty point in the background. How well preserved it looks at that point in time, an impressive building. The image is taken from a postcard possibly by T. C. Booth and could possibly date from the early 20th century.
An early 20th century postcard image of Zetland Road, how quiet it seems to today. The poor pony and trap would not enjoy the same serene pace of traffic, And as for pedestrians on the road!
Another early view of Haugh Bridge; with the junction of Water Lane and the South Loftus road. Obviously a partially ‘made-up’ road system. Note how the water spreads across South Loftus Road; definitely somewhere to avoid in heavy rain. This is equally true in more recent times!
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