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Loftus Co-operative Stores

The Co-operative Stores at Loftus; with separate departments for Butchers, Clothes, Shoes, Food, Furniture, etc. Later with branches at Staithes, Carlin How, Brotton and Castleton; it later became the East Cleveland Co-operative. with a bank upstairs. The wheelbarrow outside the butchers department containing sheepskins, suggests the Co-op had its own slaughter-house. Maurice Dower tells us: “The butchers did indeed have a slaughter-house. I had a part-time weekend job delivering orders on a Saturday on a conventional butchers bike with the big basket in the front. During a school holiday in 1958 I also helped out in the slaughter-house, not with the slaughter but the clearing up and processing. I wish I could remember all the characters from that time. Harry (?) was the manager, Danny Plews worked there along with a couple more, one of who was an outgoing man from Staithes, Names escape me must be an age thing. The toilets at the back were well inscribed with lewd graffiti of which Tom Cole was a recipient. Tom worked in the drapery dept. Some happy memories of the camaraderie there.” Keith Cook has updated with: ” I think the manager was Harry Waite. I worked in the grocery warehouse from July 1958 to January 1959 and he was manager then.” John Wilson believes: “the manager of the butchers was Harry Bainbridge.” Norman Patton assisted with dating the image with: “I believe that the Odd Fellows Hall, in this picture, was completed in 1874, which was the same year that the 3rd storey was added above the Co-op food department. (There is a date stone at the peak of the gable). So I assume that the photograph was taken sometime in 1874 or just earlier!”

Image courtesy of Olive Bennett and many thanks to Maurice Dower, Keith Cook, John Wilson and Norman Patton for the updates.

The Hinderwell Well

This John Thomas Ross of Whitby postcard image is entitled “The Old Pump Well” although often called “St Hilda’s Well” where traditionally whilst St Hilda was travelling to Whitby stopped for a water and having prayed for water, a spring appeared. The well today is more of a monument presentation, no lever pump to possibly be prevent vandalism! Anthea Ellis advises on names: “Front right Lizzie Hodgson, front left Lizzie Hodgson (unrelated); on steps John Gray, Hannah Trattles, Annie Lyth, Mabel Wheatherill. Children Bob Billam (left), Joe Dawson.”

Image courtesy of Olive Bennett and Maurice Grayson, thanks to Anthea Ellis for the update.

Zetland Road Loftus 1905

The south side of Zetland road Loftus, about 1905, complete with assembled participants in this postcard view. A William Richardson & Sons, Loftus, Penny Real Photo Series image.

Image courtesy of Olive Bennett.

Runswick Bay (On the Look Out)

Three Runswick fishermen, scan the sea in this posed Phoenix Series view post marked 10th January 1906. Wearing their best “Ganseys”, the Runswick Bay Pattern is evident; each fishing village on the Yorkshire coast had it’s own pattern. The owners initials were picked out on the gansey this with the pattern so identifying the body of a drowned fisherman to his village. An occupational hazard on this coast. Interestingly the photographer must have been well aware of his surroundings; as this area of Runswick Bay is still known as ‘The Lookout’.

Image courtesy of Olive Bennett.

Ruswarp River Bridge

An hand coloured postcard of Ruswarp, looking towards Whitby side. The old road bridge was replaced by the present arch bridge in 1936. The church of St Bartholomew prominent in the photo and the station to the right of the road level crossing.

Image courtesy of a friend of the ECIA.

Captain Cook Views Whitby

Our image shows the familiar statue of Captain Cook, above Khyber Pass viewing the harbour and the Abbey beyond.

Image courtesy of a supporter of the Archive.

Rushpool Hall 1904

Rushpool Hall is one of the finest specimens of Victorian architecture to be found in North Yorkshire. It was constructed at the head of the valley gardens in Saltburn-by-the-Sea in the years 1863-4 for Mr John Bell, one of the Victorian pioneer Ironmasters of Bell Brothers a company that controlled and worked the ironstone mines at Skelton-in-Cleveland. It seems logical that the magnificent Rushpool Hall was built with the first ironstone raised from Bell Brothers Skelton Shaft mine. After John Bell died in 1888, Sir Arthur Dorman (of Dorman Long Iron & Steel Works) moved in. Sir Joseph Walton, coal mine owner, active Wesleyan Methodist and Liberal Party MP purchased the property after it was renovated in 1906 following the great fire on 20th February 1904. The Hall was almost destroyed when a maids candle accidentally caused a curtain to catch alight. The construction of the outer walls built from ironstone mined in the Bell brothers Skelton shaft mine is probably the main reason why the Hall survived the fire. It is today a hotel and premier wedding and function venue. Our image is taken from a post card post marked 21st September 1904, so must have been very topical at the time!

Image courtesy of Olive Bennett, additional information courtesy of Rushpool Hall.

Easington Church, 1834

A sketch/painting postcard (originally published by W. Richardson & Sons, West Road, Loftus) showing the original church at Easington; dated 1834.  It is a view of the original church which opened 10th May, 1772, the Rector at the time being Rev. William Harker, M.A. The view was sketched from the east (approaching the village from Staithes) on Whitby Road. Deirdre Thackray comments: “I would love to see this postcard in the ‘flesh’ so to speak. Is it possible to make contact with the owners of this postcard?”

Image courtesy of Olive Bennett and Cody McCabe; thanks to Deirdre Thackray for the comment.

Zetland Road 1906

Dating of this image can be very definite. George Hebditch (building contractor) moved to Loftus in 1906. He first built the Congregational church at the bottom of Westfield Terrace. The church is clearly visible in the image with the scaffolding still in place and the outdoor pulpit not yet constructed. Researches have produced the following detail: ”In October 1904, a start was made to raise funds for a new building on a prominent site in the centre of the town. Foundation stones were laid in April, 1906 and opened for public worship on December 6th 1906. The total cost of the premises was £2,100, of all but £600 had been raised by June 1907”.

Image courtesy of Mike & Carol; additional dating information courtesy of postcard ”Congregational Church and Minister, Loftus in Cleveland”.

Sunday School Picnic Procession 1906

This T. C. Booth postcard shows the procession prior to the 1906 Congregational Picnic, descending Zetland Road. Judging by the road, other parts of the procession had preceded in front!

Image courtesy of Olive Bennett.