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Upleatham Church

A photograph view of Upleatham Church – possibly the most ”snapped” small church in England? – dating from about 1920.
Image courtesy of Owen Rooks.

Loftus Shops Circa 1967

A quieter view of the Zetland Road and Westfield Terrace corner, taken before the traffic lights were installed. Also the various shops which then graced the end of Zetland Road. Much changed today, although the chemists remains with a much less imposing frontage. Ben Willis comments: “I am Grandson of Ruby Middleton (formally Trinder) who inherited “Trinders” (centre shop in photograph) from her father John Trinder. Did you know that one of Trinders curved entrance windows (as you can see in the photo) was one of a very few windows to survive World War II bombs in Loftus. The window remained intact until Coral the bookmakers bought the shop about 10 years ago, which they demolished and replaced with the modern bookmakers shop window… Sad.” Whilst Julie Riddiough adds: “Oh my god at last a photograph of Trinders shop, I have been searching for one for years. It was my great great great grandads shop originally. His daughter Kate was my great great grandmother. We have never been able to find a picture of the shop, I was due to go see Ruby a few years ago whilst doing the family tree, but she wasn’t well enough. My nana still has a china cabinet from Trinders shop that they were allowed to pick as a wedding present.”

Image courtesy of Ray Brown, thanks to Ben Willis and Julie Riddiough for the updates.

High Street Brotton 1934

The title on this postcard view of Brotton High Street tells it all. Both the cinema and chapel long gone (their absence marked by an extensive parking area), although the public house ‘The Railway Arms’ (steps in left corner) still remains open today. Larraine Goldby comments: “I well Remember attending the Methodist Chapel during the fifties! Good memories I lived in Brotton on coach Road from 1953 until my marriage in 1961.”

Image courtesy of Julie Riddiough, thanks to Larraine Goldby for that memory.

Chemist Corner

Chemist Corner as the title also tells us is now the location of an estate agents, as well as a photographic shop. This postcard view in more quieter days, possibly before the War Memorial was erected, the space seems to be occupied by a building. We asked if anybody could assist the function was of this building. Julie Riddiough tells us: ”It was the Kingdom Hall, a little shed type building where the Jehovah’s Witnesses would meet, there was also a shoemakers (or cordwainers as they called themselves then) behind it.  Im not sure if its there now but up until about 2 years ago the shed itsself, all dismantled was actually still there in pieces propped against a wall.” Malcolm Moore tells us: ”I remember at the beginning of the war being marched down from the school to Kingdom Hall to be issued with our gas masks.  All very exciting!”
Image courtesy of Julie Riddiough also many thanks to Julie and Malcolm Moore for the updates.