RSSStage One
The Golden Lion
We begin outside the GOLDEN LION public house, a fine early 19th century building. It is situated on the South side of the MARKET PLACE, which was also the site of the annual Loftus Wool Fair until it died out just before the last war. Windows on the first and second floors of the old WOOL WAREHOUSE, next to the Post Office, mark double doors through which goods used to be hoisted from the street.
Next to it is LOFTUS TOWN HALL, built in 1879 by the London architect E. R. Robson. This attractive building stands on the corner of the main street and WATER LANE, where we turn off.
St. Leonard's Parish Church
On the left is the PARISH CHURCH OF ST. LEONARD. Built in 1811 on the site of a mediaeval building, but largely altered in 1900. All that remains of the earliedt church is an ancient font outside in the churchyard between the tower and the Town Hall. Opposite the church are the stable block and the out-buildings of Loftus Hall.
Continue down Water Lane, noticing the huge wall on the right. It is part of the original boundary to LOFTUS HALL. The best view of this much altered early nineteenth century house is from the footpath which runs off to the right at the bottom of the lane. In front of you as you look up at the Hall is its kitchen garden. The house was built (ca. 1840) for the Lord of the Manor, Sir Robert Dundas, a member of the Zetland family which later did much to develop the town after ironstone was discovered nearby in the 1850s.
Retrace your steps to the bottom of Water Lane, but now proceed along the road in front of you.
This is DAM STREET (originally DAMSIDE). Its quiet appearance now belies its past role as Loftus’ second busiest street.
Old Police Station
The rectangular stone-built house (No. 12) immediately on the left is the OLD POLICE STATION, opened in 1888. Beyond it is the site of the BLACK BULL public house and of numerous houses (the remains of which are clearly visible; one still survives) in the original Dam Street. Look up to your right as you near the end of the street. The building through the trees is the OLD RECTORY, designed in 1843/4 by the famous architect Ignatius Bonami. His other work in the area includes Skelton Castle and Redcar Parish Church.
Still in Dam Street, just before it curves to the left is a large stone building with most of its windows blacked out. Before 1838 this was the PARISH POORHOUSE. Loftus’ first Primitive Methodist Chapel stood behind it.
The Old Rectory
Walk up to the corner of Dam Street and High Street. The shop opposite was once the ASSEMBLY ROOMS dance hall. On the right is an attractive terrace, ST. HILDA’S PLACE. Number 1 was demolished to widen the road. Numbers 2 and 4 are early nineteenth century, number 5 about 1800, numbers 6 and 7 late eighteenth century and number 8 standing out at the end is one of Loftus’ many attractive mid-eighteenth century houses.
Turn left, with about two minutes walk left, up the hill to the Market Place, past the floral bank, which is one of the town’s most pleasant sights and the imposing WAR MEMORIAL, commemmorating the dead of both World Wars and you have finished Stage One. To continue with Stage Two, cross the road and follow the main road East, away from the town centre.