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Dam End

 

Haugh bridge I have been told is the name of this bridge but I am sure many of you like me will know it as Dam End and the entrance to Espiner’s woods, now named Hancock’s woods.  The men on the bridge seem to be deep in conversation probably putting the world to rights.

Image courtesy of John G. Hannah.

Dam End, Loftus

A  peaceful photograph showing the entrance to what used to be Espiner’s wood and the road leading up to South Loftus.  The ford has now been piped under the road. As Mike Hopper tells us: “I always knew it as ‘Espiners’ wood but now for some reason it’s called ‘Hancocks’?” The new name appears to have come about in recent times following the activities of Loftus Civic Trust, etc!

Many thanks to Mike Hopper for that comment.

Flood Damage 1939

These were the scenes after a cloudburst on 7th August 1939. Rails and sleepers at cemetery corner Loftus were undermined by the floods; the image on left shows a section of the road leading to South Loftus. The images are taken from a collection of Northern Echo newspaper cuttings.

Loftus Town Hall

The Archive has now had access to two copies of this lovely tinted card from the ”Phoenix” Series produced by Brittain & Wright of Stockton. The first was posted in Loftus on October 31, 1904, with a half penny stamp; the second posted in Darlington August 10, 1907. The signboard on the left is that of ’J. Wrightson, General Smith, Horse Shoes’ whose business was at the Forge, set back to the left behind the High Street. The Town Hall built by Lord Zetland in 1879, replacing the Parish Church School built by Zachary Moore (formerly Lord of the Manor before Lord Zetland) in 1746.

Images courtesy of Kim Whaley and Jean Hall.

Loftus Arts Club – 1951

Loftus Arts Club performing ”Ladies in Retirement” in Loftus Town Hall 1951.

Back Row: Ann Norminton, Olga McClaren, Nick Marshall, Margaret Harmer, ??.

Front row: Jean Peel, Margaret Duffy, Myra Dowson.

Ann Norminton advised: “Margaret Harmer played the part of tha maid.”

Can anybody help with the missing name?

Image courtesy of Peggy Allan and thanks to Ann Norminton for the update.

Town Hall – Loftus

This picture shows the Town Hall to perfection, the lovely entrance and the clock. Did you know there are only three faces to the clock? The face that should have looked South was omitted as there was no one to see it.

A Proud Trio

This proud trio pose; smiling broadly, with an array of trophies, whilst receiving another – I was never that fit!

They are: Steve Trillo, Colin Codling, Colin Fenby and the man in the suit is Ernie Cockburn. They were Captains at Loftus Cricket Club, and we asked: ”but what was the occasion and when?” Ken Fawcett told us: ”The photograph was taken at the end of season presentation evening. I think the year was 1978 and the venue was Rushpool Hall. Colin Fenby was A team captain and we were Champions of the Cleveland and Teesside league for the second successive year. The following year we made it three in succession.”

Thanks to Mark Smithies and Ken Fawcett for information.

Loftus Cricket Team – 1953

We asked questions and Terry Shaw has come up with the answers; the place is Loftus Cricket Ground at East Loftus in 195 3; Loftus were Cleveland Cup and Kerridge Cup Winners 1953.

Back Row (L to R): Jack Andrew (scorer), R. Pigg, R. Hasseldine, C. Winspear, M Matson, J. Hauxwell, ??, B. Husband (gateman).

Front Row (L to R): D. Codling, Ernie Cockburn, Fred Hird, Maurice Stephenson, C.H.A. Howe.

The two trophies featured are the Cleveland and the Kerridge Cups. Ian Proctor tell us: ”The Cleveland Cup first played in 1885 over two innings and won by Norton. The Kerridge Cup first played 1911 and won by Liverton Mines.”

Terry Shaw further tells us: ”Cleveland Cup Final played at Great Ayton on 3rd August 1953. Dorman’s 62 all out (C. Winspear 4-15, F. Hird 3-20)
Loftus A 65-4 (C. H. A. Howe 19, G. Robinson 16). Played on an August Bank Holiday Monday in very warm sunshine Dorman’s won the toss and elected to bat, a decision which they afterwards regretted due to during the previous week it had been very wet so the wicket and outfield was very soft, the wicket being very susceptible to spin.
The Dorman’s batsmen were soon in difficulty to the bowling of 18-year-old C. Winspear who took 4-15 and F. Hird 3-20 and the side were dismissed for 62. Loftus replied with 65-4 to win the cup for the seventh time, C. H. A. Howe making 19, G. Robinson 16, and B. Swain 14.
Among the large number of spectators were members and supporters of nearly every team in the league, including many Loftus people who had made the journey by bus. E. Cockburn of Loftus played in his third successful Cleveland Cup Final, the only player at that time who had managed more than two.

Kerridge Cup Final played at Marton on 6th August 1953
Constantine 84 all out (24 overs) (F. Hird 6-24, C. Winspear 4-37)
Loftus A 85-4 (15.1 overs) (C. H. A. Howe 27, R. Pigg 21; Loftus won by 6 wickets. Loftus’s winning total of 85-4 was scored in just 47 minutes.

Image courtesy of Keith Bennison; with thanks for the information Joan Jemson, Eric Johnson, Ian Proctor (Historian of Cleveland Cricket League), Terry Shaw and Ken Fawcett for the full details.

Skinningrove Iron and Steel Works

A panoramic view of the steel works taken from Brotton Miner’s Hospital or somewhere near.  Still in the days of steam locomotives on the railway, so the works would be in full production.

 

Bus on Carlin How Bank

Classic photograph  – of a Bedford Duple and that it is the 1950’s.  Alan Chilton advises us that this was part of the Saltburn Motor Services (Kelly Watsons) fleet operating from Loftus to Saltburn via Liverton Mines. That number plate would be worth a fortune! 

Thanks to Alan Chilton for the update.