I bet this was quite a classy photograph when it was new, before age faded the image somewhat. Hummersea Farm was originally built for the Manager of the Alum quarries and works, the farm house being built to the right in an ’L’ shape layout. Elsie Hart was brought up on this farm. Neil Dunbar advises: “This view was taken from the garden at Hummersea. Anyone walking past the farmhouse would not even be aware this garden was there. I’m presuming the Elsie Hart that is mentioned is the mother of Ada and Tommy Hart who owned the farm when I lived at Seaview in the 1970′s. Seaview was the bottom part of the ‘L’ which looks out over the farmyard and out toward the sea over Hummersea Cliffs. The upright part of the ‘l’ runs back from Seaview into the hillside and as such is very sheltered from the elements – this is the part I knew as Hummersea Farm and where Ada & Tommy lived. The only views from this building were from the upstairs windows you can see in the photographs – these look toward The Warren and the old alum workings which are further on. At the time I lived there Ada & Tommy owned the two cottages known as The Warren. They were ultimately sold to a local doctor (Guy Etches) who has made a fine home from the two cottages. Tommy Hart sold them cheaply to Guy in exchange for Guy arranging for Tommy’s hip replacement operation. At the time I lived at Seaview, Guy rented one of the Warren cottages and relatives of the people I was living with rented the other one. The views north from the Warren north past Skinningrove Pier and on toward Redcar are stunning.” Vince Brown adds: “Re Elsie Hart. Elsie Hart was Tommy Harts sister her mother was Mary Jackson (born 1876 Brotton) her father Thomas Hart (born 1872 Ugthorpe); married (1902). Other children were Mary, Annie and Hilda. My grandmother was a Hart from Ugthorpe.” Whilst Karen Lyons concludes with: “My father and grandparents used to camp on the farm when it was owned by a Mr Tom Hart – must have been in the 1930s. I have a photo of Mr Hart.”
Image courtesy of Jean Dean, thanks to Ray Harrison (son of Elsie Hart), Neil Dunbar, Vince Brown and Karen Lyons for the updates.
Thanks to Owen Rooks for this photograph and following caption: ”This is a shot I took from a helicopter of the works site in June 2006. I don’t know what goes on there these days so I’ll leave it to the experts to identify any noteworthy features!”
Inspector Kenneth Gillance and Mrs. Gillance (with their backs to the camera) were the judges of the fancy dress costumes in the park at Bank Top. Centre stage is Vera Shaw. Martyn Richardson tells us: ” I’m dressed as a tramp (stick over my shoulder) just to the right of the lady posing for the picture, and I’m 99% sure it’s Mark Yeoman, dressed in the blue checked shirt and the hat. I think the red dungarees in the centre of the picture may be being worn by Lee Spoor. I remember that day and the fancy dress parade.”The occasion was the celebration of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977. Were you there?
Image courtesy of John Roberts for the picture and Martyn Richardson for the update.
The caption that is printed on the reverse of this postcard reads: ”Old Saltburn, Yorkshire. At the foot of the valley through which Skelton Beck reaches the sea, Old Saltburn’s few cottages are so close to the breakers that spray beats on the windows. The headland of Huntcliff to the south forms a fine background.” David Richardson commented: “This may have been taken in the 1950’s.”
Image courtesy of Tina Dowey, from a postcard that was published by J. Arthur Dixon, Ltd; thanks to David Richardson for the update.
This image (from an A. C. Bruce postcard) featured in a Loftus Town Crier calendar with the commentary of: “Farm house and buildings at Hummersea. This farm is situated between North Terrace and the Coast Guard cottages. The farm was a place to rest for a lot of people who had climbed up from the beach.” The Archive asked: “Where were the coast guard’s cottages? Does anybody recognise the two people in the doorway?”
Eric Johnson advised: “Of interest in the photograph, are the upstairs windows, they are of the ’Yorkshire’ sash type; in which as can be seen in three of them, the lower left hand panes open ”sideways” by sliding to the right. unlike normal sash windows with the upper panes sliding up and down. I think the coastguard cottages are now known as Warren Cottages towards the alum quarry.”
Image courtesy of Loftus Town Crier, many thanks to Eric Johnson for the update.
A photograph contemporary with that in ”Saltburn, A Renaissance”, only taken from Cat Nab. This shows the roundabouts where the boat park is now; I think this dates into the 1960’s. Tony Auffret tells us: ”I think this was still there in 1960. The “amusement” on the far right was a “waltzer”. There were “swing boats” behind along the edge with the beach.” Callum Duff has a dating update: ”Although Skelton Beck was used for boating before 1962, the ‘official’ council-run boating lake with sluice gates to regulate the depth of the beck, segregated areas for larger and smaller boats and the marking out of car parking spaces and the toilet block was laid out in 1962. The reason I know this is that I have a copy of the 1961 centenary film (where there is no boating lake visible) and a copy of a 1963 film of Saltburn where the boating appears to be well-established and very popular. This postcard image was taken between 1962 (when the boating lake was completed) and 1974 (no postcards images of Saltburn were produced between 1974 and 1978). The Waltzers remained on this site until 1978 and the rest of the rides and buildings had been removed by 1983.” Rick Avern enquired: “Does anyone know who owned these rides in the 1960’s.” Alan Collins advised: “My mother worked in the cafe and beach shop, owned by the family who also owned the little fairground. To the right of the bog waltzer was a rifle range with metal targets that were knocked over with the .22 rifles. The family who owned the fairground, beach shop and cafe lived in the farm house, on the other side of a little wooden bridge, behind where this photograph was taken. The family also owned the shop (behind where you can see a small brick cemented paddling pool behind white wooden railings, which was also dismantled in the early 1950’s). It sold sweets, ice cream, postcards, and the usual stuff – but my mother persuaded the owners to serve hot food.”
Image courtesy of Jean Dean; many thanks to Callum Duff, Tony Auffret, Rick Avern and Alan Collins for the updates.
Another idyllic setting; this from a hand tinted postcard view of Hummersea Farm, today much altered and improved from this scene. Although the farm still remains secluded and peaceful.
The image was donated by Iris Knight (nee George) Her father (Tom George)was lay preacher at the chapel and just for good measure, he must at the time been the tallest man in the village at 6 feet 4 inches tall as Iris recalls. Sheila Alderson tells us: ”I remember the Sunday School at the back, we went through the door on the right hand side. Before I left England my name was written on the outside window ledge across from the ’Hollywell’ (Sheila and Paul); I wonder if its still there….lovely memories of my childhood ….”Mel Stevens (Wobblywotnotz) commented: “I now own the chapel at Liverton Mines and was thrilled to find a picture of how it looked when it was still in use.”
Image courtesy of Iris Knight (nee George) via Ray Brown, also thanks to Sheila Alderson for the update.
This photograph taken by Frank Meadow Sutcliffe; a perfect, timeless image. Taken from ”Photographic View Album of Whitby” – photographed and printed by Valentine & Sons Ltd., Dundee.
The photograph was taken in the yard of the school, now Loftus Youth and Community Centre and Sure Start buildings.
Back row: Tony Wilkinson, David Blackmore, Derek Kilvington, Keith Ferguson, Alan Tebble, Keith Steyert, George Cowan, David Hebron, Billy Calvert, Howard Morrison, David Cummins, Terry George, Ian Pearson, John Grey.
Middle row: Eric Jackson, David Brown, Alan Starsmore, Allan Garbutt, Pam Edwards, Jean Smith, Christine Ebbs, Audrey Whitwell, Ann Anderson, Jean Duck.
Front row: Eileen Sayers, Lilian Smithies, Margaret Douthwaite, Barbara Bottomley, Ruth Harrison, Elizabeth Walker, Margaret Hicks.
Image and details courtesy of Audrey Souter (Whitwell).
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