A quiet sunny day in Loftus, the awnings are down to protect the shop windows from the sun. Not a lot of people out shopping and not much traffic.
Image courtesy of Rita Unthank.
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 Frederick W. Bothroyd – Watchmaker and Jeweller – 5 Zetland Road, Loftus is listed in the 1901 Census, but not in 1891. Jayne tells us: ”The image is of Frederick William Bothroyd standing proudly in his shop. His brother Herbert Bothroyd shared the premises and operated a cycle shop, hence the tires in the front window. F.W. Bothroyd set up his watchmaking/jewellery business at Loftus in c1890 on the High Street. He moved premises to Zetland Road by 1894, first at 27 Zetland Road and then at 5 Zetland Road until 1914.” This image possibly dates from the mid 1890’s. This is based upon records which indicate he married in 1892 and by 1901 had three children, the eldest being Richard 6 years of age. The site is now occupied by a cafe and amusement arcade. Interesting that the next door way to the right of the image leads to ”refreshment rooms”. Barrie Durrent advises: “I have a 20 inch wall clock made by F. W. Bothroyd. It was given to me over 40 years ago, by an old resident of Loftus , Wilf Swales, who died many years ago. I was told that the clock once hung in Loftus Town Hall and was scraped as it no longer worked. I cleaned it found out what the problem was and had it repaired by a friend from the British Museum. I have recently had the clock cleaned and the repairer asked me if I knew anything of the clocks history and a Google search led me to your wonderful archive. My wife was born in Loftus and I have some beautiful memories of Yorkshire and my son spent most of his school holidays with his Grandparents at Ings Farm.” John Dickinson tells the Archive: “I inherited a F. W. Bothroyd clock from my Great Grandad (a Mr George Bower who lived in Skelton), I think it originally came from Brotton Working Men’s Club, I think he came by the clock due to refurbishment of the Club. The clock is 12 inches in diameter which is in a hexagon wood moulded wood case which extends down to incorporate a Pendulum which is 4 inches in diameter which is brass. From being a young boy I loved this clock when we visited Grandad and Grandma’s and we’d sit there just listening to the clock ticking away no Radio or television on just the clock ticking.” Image courtesy of Loftus Town Council; many thanks to Jayne, Barrie Durrent and John Dickinson for the updates.  There’s no mistaking this waterfall in Espiner’s (Hancock’s) Wood; from a postcard by Cooke’s Fancy Bazaar, 56 West Road, Loftus. Anthony Hall remembers: “I used to go there and swim, when I was a kid and loved this place.” Melissa Ellis recalls: “Does anyone else remember some sort of fun day of some sort through Hancock woods? I remember stalls and games running through the woods from dam end to the waterfall, where they had duck races?. Imagine it will have been the early 1990s.” Whilst Gaz adds: “I a remember the duck races!“ Image courtesy of Beryl Morris, thanks to Anthony Hall, Melissa Ellis and Gaz for the updates..  Entitled ”Higher Zetland Road., Loftus” this hand tinted postcard dates from pre 1903. I love the horse and looking closely at the pavement near the horse it looks to be raised quite high? And in the back ground, almost in the middle of the road is ”White Hat Richardson”! Image courtesy of Olive Bennett and Eileen Hicks.  Thanks to Mrs. S. Dohring for this photograph of her uncle’s shop window, dressed for the coronation of king George VI in 1937. The shop was at 32, Zetland Road, Loftus. Image courtesy of Mrs. Shirley Dohring.  The first Co-op Shop in Loftus was situated on Zetland Road, this before the ’emporium’ on West Road. It obviously specialised in hardware items, based on the wallpaper posters and the hurricane lamps, etc., handing in the windows. Image courtesy of Loftus Town Crier.  The title says ”Loftus Wood” and the team were unsure of the location, but now Rick King tells us: ”The waterfall is between the old foundry and the wooden bridge down near the viaduct, probably half a kilometre upstream. be careful when walking upstream because the cliffs narrow in over the beck.” Image courtesy of Beryl Morris and thanks to Rick for the update on location of this delightful scene.  This postcard view of Espiners Wood taken from down beside the beck. Image courtesy of Beryl Morris.  ”Haugh Bridge, Water Lane” was written on the back of this card, but we don’t think it is. Could it be the footbridge at the bottom of Slater’s Banks, taken from the field? The ’Private Wood’ was felled and cleared round about 1970 and has since regrown.
A Friths postcard and as it says – Loftus Woods – but this was in the days long before landslips and the restructuring of the hillside that went on more recently. As the other image of Loftus Woods is clearly marked Skilbeck our viewers will understand our confusion; however the Archive is now aware that Friths often used local agents to produce photographs. Image courtesy of Rita Unthank. |
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