Viewed from Water Lane this view of Dam End is from a George Skilbeck postcard.
Image courtesy of Joyce Dobson and Keith Bowers.
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 Post marked 1923, this Valentine’s postcard views the Gare from the Coatham side, with the World War I gunslits still in place. The site was a fortified area to protect the mouth of the Tees and part of the coastal defences. The lighthopuse still survives but the white buildings in the centre have long vanished, interestingly the whole promontory would be as hard to acess for the general public then; as it is today. Image courtesy of Joan Jemson.  A puzzle for our knowledgable viewers. We said the loco appears to be Prince Charles, but without the overall fairing. And the whole train seems to be running on one rail ? On the car park fairground caravans can be seen. Date 1940’s early 1950’s. However Callum Duff gives us the answer: ”The locomotive seen here is ‘Blackolvesley’ which was renamed ‘Elizabeth’, possibly because of the coronation. This locomotive was used as the ‘spare’ after ‘Prince Charles’ was purchased in 1955.” Image courtesy of Joyce Dobson and Keith Bowers, but especial thanks to Callum Duff for solving the mystery.  This postcard view of the “Ruins” as it is described on the card must date to post 1906. On site we have an image of the same building in a better state of repair which is postmarked 1906. This image is now known to have been produced by T. C. Booth of Loftus. Image courtesy of Joyce Dobson and Keith Bowers.  This delightful scene is taken from a local postcard producer – H. Sayer, Post Office, Runswick – perhaps he was in competition with Tom Watson of Lythe? Titled ‘The Promenade, Sandsend’ is quite a bit of artistic licence; considering it is the road along the front. Today it is often ‘bathed’ from the sea on high tides; but more limiting is the traffic, either parked on the left hand side or the rapidly moving traffic. Image courtesy of Joan Jemson.  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’! Image courtesy of Mrs Sakaropoulus.  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? Image courtesy of Mrs Sakaropoulus.  A view of Skinningrove from the road close to St Helen’s church, Carlin How? A colourful view of what was then a vibrant community; although top Primrose Hill has been demolished, Hutton Street and the Co-op building are still intact. How it has changed. Steven Partlett advises: “I suspect that this image has been taken from the top of the Sinter plant. In the bottom right hand corner is the Fan house crane gantry leg. Also the fence marked to works boundary.” Image courtesy of Mrs Sakaropoulus, thanks to Steven Partlett for the update. |
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