Loftus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Historical and geographical information

 

 

 

  

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Introduction

 

Dates are in red.

Hyperlinks to other pages are in dark blue.

Headlines of the history of the Loftus are in brown.

References and citations are in turquoise.

Contextual history is in purple.

 

This webpage about the Loftus has the following section headings:

 

 

The Farndales of Loftus

 

The Loftus 1 Line are the descendants of William Farndale (FAR00152), 1739 to 1813 who was a constable in Loftus and a freeholder. The Loftus 2 Line are the descendants of George Farndale (FAR00350C), 1843 to 1917 who was a farmer in Brotton and Iron miner of Loftus. The Loftus 3 Line are the descendants of William Farndale (FAR00378), 1849 to 1894, a farm servant of Loftus, Whitby and Egton.

Loftus

 

Loftus is recorded as "Lcotvsv" in the Domesday book, from Laghthus meaning low houses. Loctushum, Locteshusum (eleventh century); Lofthusum (twelfth century); Lofthus (twelfth to fifteenth centuries); Loftous, Loftos (thirteenth century); Lofthouse (thirteenth and fourteenth centuries).

Loftus is a town and civil parish located in the borough of Redcar and Cleveland in the North East of England. The town lies within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire and is governed by the unitary authority of Redcar and Cleveland. It lies in a region between Saltburn-by-the-Sea and the North York Moors. It was formerly known as Lofthouse. The population of the Loftus ward of the Redcar and Cleveland unitary authority taken at the 2011 census was 6,382.

The Victoria County History – Yorkshire, A History of the County of York North Riding: Volume 2 Parishes: Loftus, 1923: The parish contains the market town of Loftus, and to the south the isolated farms of High and Low Wapley, with Gallihowe, Deepdale and Street Houses to the north. Its area is 3,744 acres, of which 137 acres are foreshore, 6 acres are covered by inland waters, 885 acres are arable land, 1,741 acres permanent grass and 457 acres woods and plantations. The whole township is called Loftus, but, as in 1308–9, it is divided by a stream into North Loftus and South Loftus.

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The Methodist preacher John Wesley is known to have preached in Loftus. More recent history is dominated by the ironstone mining industry and many inhabitants that live in Loftus can trace lineage back to ironstone miners.

Loftus Timeline

 

200 CE

 

A Roman Villa has been unearthed on the coast near Loftus.

 

Seventh Century

 

The Loftus area has been inhabited since at least the 7th century, and although folkloric evidence includes a house owned by Sigurd the Dane, who features in Macbeth as Siward, real evidence has been unearthed in recent times to support the picture of ancient settlement in the area.

The only known Anglo-Saxon royal burial site in north-east England is near Loftus. Artefacts were discovered there from excavations which took place between 2005 and 2007. Finds include pieces associated with a rare bed burial in which a decorated female body is laid out on a decorated wooden bed accompanied by fine gold jewellery. The finds include a gold pendant, which would have belonged to a princess. as well as glass beads, pottery, iron knives, belt buckles and other objects. The finds, which date back nearly 1400 years were discovered by members of the Teesside Archaeological Society, led by Dr Steve Sherlock, in a 109-grave site at Street House, Loftus. They are presently on show at the Kirkleatham Old Hall Museum.

In 2008 the local Archaeologist, Dr Stephen Sherlock, discovered an Anglo-Saxon burial ground on the coast near Loftus.

A collection of gold jewelry

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Items from an Anglo Saxon burial site at Loftus

1086

 

There were two vills of Loftus in 1086, each composed of 4 carucates of land. Before the Conquest Siward Earl of Northumberland held 4 carucates here as a 'manor,' then worth £48, but in 1086 waste.

1205

 

Peter de Brus offered 25 marks and a “palfrey” to have the seisin (conveyance of ownership) of Lofthouse of the honour of Chester.

 

1615

 

The Victoria County History – Yorkshire, A History of the County of York North Riding: Volume 2 Parishes: Loftus, 1923: Between 1615 and 1633 all the arable, meadow and pasture land in the common fields and 'ings' of North Loftus was partitioned among the farmers who had purchased the manor.

1657

 

The Victoria County History – Yorkshire, A History of the County of York North Riding: Volume 2 Parishes: Loftus, 1923: Alum rock was mentioned in a letter to Sir Thomas Chaloner in 1603–7, and alum works had been started shortly before 1657–8 when the mine was let on a lease by the lord of the manor, who leased it to the Crown for £400 yearly in 1665 and refused to abate the rent to £300 per annum, despite the threats of Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper.

1791

 

The Victoria County History – Yorkshire, A History of the County of York North Riding: Volume 2 Parishes: Loftus, 1923: In 1791 Thomas Richardson of Handale Abbey was rewarded by the Society of Arts for having planted 40 acres of land with mixed timber which still flourishes.

1808

 

The Victoria County History – Yorkshire, A History of the County of York North Riding: Volume 2 Parishes: Loftus, 1923: It was stated in 1808 that a weekly market had been started recently and was a convenience to the alum workers.

1831

 

The Victoria County History – Yorkshire, A History of the County of York North Riding: Volume 2 Parishes: Loftus, 1923: A decrease of 140 in the population in 1831 was ascribed to the depreciated state of the alum works and consequent emigration to America.

 

1857

 

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1861

 

The Victoria County History – Yorkshire, A History of the County of York North Riding: Volume 2 Parishes: Loftus, 1923: The population is said to have more than doubled in 1861–71 owing to the commencement of the iron industry.

1874

 

The Oddfellows Hall, in Loftus, was built in 1874 as the offices and meeting place of the local Oddfellows society. The Loftus Oddfellows would raise money for their members.

Oddfellows were friendly or mutual societies, set up and organised by people from different guilds representing various trades. Other societies existed for single trades, but when there were not enough people from one trade, especially in smaller towns, societies would be formed from an "odd" mixture of people, so giving the name "Oddfellows".

1875

 

Loftus railway station opened in 1875. It closed to passengers in 1960. The line still operates through the station site, with freight services for Boulby Mine, and occasional passenger 'specials' for rail enthusiasts.

 

1879

 

Loftus Town Hall was built by the Earl of Zetland, erected by a Thomas Dickenson of Saltburn, and was first opened in 1879. The Town Hall clock has faces north, east and west, but no face to the south as the residents of South Loftus were reluctant to contribute to the cost.

 

1894

 

The Victoria County History – Yorkshire, A History of the County of York North Riding: Volume 2 Parishes: Loftus, 1923: The urban district formed under the Local Government Act of 1894 comprises the parishes of Loftus, Liverton and Skinningrove. A pretty town, in spite of its mining industry, it has grown up round its old High Street, in the centre of which are the Town Hall and church of St. Leonard.

 

1962

 

To the north of the village there is a disused nuclear bunker. The bunker was opened in 1962 and closed 1968.

Notable people of Loftus

 

Notable people include Lewis Hunton (1814–1838), geologist.

Links, texts and books