Believed to be Harry Wrightson blacksmith at Loftus Forge in 1900, with John Ward Hopper (who was apprenticed to Harry Wrightson) on the left. John Ward Hopper was the Grandfather of Maurice Toulson of the Loftus Town Crier. Loftus Forge was built by Lord Zetland at the turn of the century, in what was then his timber yard, with his estate office nearby. The forge was rented to Mr John Wrightson for £15 per year. John Smith advised us: “I’d question this as Harry wasn’t born until 1901 in Guisborough (unless there is another Harry). It might be his Father, John or the date may be incorrect? Harry was my Grandmother’s cousin and I remember going to stay at the forge in the 1960’s.”
The gentleman holding the horse is unknown. Can you help?
Image courtesy of Olive Bennett and thanks to John Smith and Mary Thewlis for the updates.
Harry was my mother’s brother-in-law. I remember visiting in the 1950s and staying there after my parents had a car accident. The building looked much like the photo.