Loftus History

In the early 1890's much distress was caused in the area by a strike in the Durham coalfield, many people then moved to Derbyshire, to a new town called Poolsbrook. Amongst these men were men from Loftus and the whole of the Featherstone family who had revived the Sword dancing in Loftus. Soon they were dancing again, this photograph was taken in 1892 and shows the following. 

Matthew Seymour, William Martin, George Featherstone, George Derby, (a local man who filled in for Tom Martin), John Watts, Joe Winspear, Charlie Mays, Robert Featherstone, with Tom Shaw and Tom Gilbert clowns. 

After a few years away the men returned home, Joe Winspear settled in North Skelton where he taught the famous North Skelton White Rose team of Sword Dancers and George Featherstone moved to Lingdale and taught the Lingdale Primrose 
Sword Dancers which included his three sons. 

Another team was formed in Loftus which continued until after the first world war, its last performance being about 1931. Joe Winspear the musician, Jack Legg, Jim Taylor, A Henwood, Dick Magor, Paddy Hodgson, R. Jackson and J. Garner. They gave benefit concerts in aid of unfortunate friends who were ill or unemployed in the absence of the help we receive today. 

The Loftus Sword Dancer team, led by Mr Harold Norminton, Headmaster of the County Modern School, tried to recapture the spirit and enthusiasm of the early pioneers. This they certainly did, gaining World Wide recognition dancing seven times in the Royal Albert Hall, and eight times at Llangollen International Eisteddfod. Also being invited and dancing in France, Holland, Austria, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, Spain and Virginia in America, as well as all over the UK. 

New dancers joined the group over the years, but John Hill a reserve in the first team was still there in the end, dancing No 1, he tried to keep the tradition going but sadly failed. The last musician was John Waite, affectionally known as Pop. The last leader was Mr Malcolm Gratton. 

Information and photograph kindly contributed by John Hill. 

The following is taken directly from a publication: Loftus Urban District Council Souvenir Coronation Year Book, published 2nd June, 1953. 
For the following section, the writers of the booklet relied heavily on interviews with Mary Elizabeth Martin (nee Featherstone) sister to my Grandmother, Hannah Jane Hogben Layen (nee Featherstone.) 
Contributed by: Roy Hogben, Ithaca NY USA (RoyHogben@aol.com) Grandson, Hannah Jane Featherstone Hogben Layen, Grand Nephew, Elizabeth Featherstone Martin of whom much of this narrative is credited. 

NOTE: John Featherstone died December 5, 1899 in a Lingdale Mine Accident. 
George Featherstone died January 21, 1937 (unconfirmed) 

"Sword dancing was encouraged and taught by Mr. John Featherstone of Hartington Street in about 1890. He learned the figures and three traditional tunes from an old Goathland Plough Stot called Ventress living near, who, it is said, was not much of a dancer himself. The latter was an ironstone miner but left here to become a publican in Egton. 

In order to keep his children and their friends out of the public houses and off the streets at night, Mr. Featherstone and his wife encouraged them to play games like Fox and Geese and Merrils. The idea of sword dancing quickly caught their imagination and while John whistled the tunes the young men danced around the kitchen, using Hazel sticks for swords. The dancers included the brothers George and Robert Featherstone (now living at Great Ayton), Joe Winspear, Charles Mayes, Tom Martin and William Martin. The last named later married John Featherstone's daughter, who is living in Loftus. Mrs. Martin remembers well the interest taken in the young men by her parents, and her mother's forbearance at the regular sight of her furniture being moved around for the convenience of the dancers. 

Later, George Featherstone learned to play the melodeon and became a most proficient performer, in constant demand for all kinds of folk dancing for teams in East Cleveland until his death. 

Joe Winspear also became a musician and played many years later with North Skelton, but in the early days the musician was John Watts from Skinningrove. 

There were always two extra members of the team in addition to the six dancers, who dressed in clown's clothes and had their faces blacked with soot. Alternatively one of these was dressed as an old woman and took part, with her husband, in some ritual which was traditionally part of the dance. They also took up a collection from the onlookers attracted by the music and dancing. 

During the early 1890's much distress was caused in the district by a strike in the Durham coalfield and many miners, including most of the team, moved to Derbyshire, to a newly build town called Poolsbrook, near Chesterfield. 

The whole Featherstone family, together with the Martins, Joe Winspear, Matt Seymour, John Watts and Charlie Mayes, settled here (in Derbyshire) for the next few years and it was not long before the sword dance team was in action (again). 

After a few years in Derbyshire where, according to Mrs. Martin they never really felt at home, the Loftus people came back to Cleveland. 

After the death of her husband , Mrs. Featherstone and her youngest son, John, took a smallholding at Moorsholm, where they were joined by George and Robert and their wives." 

Many thanks to Roy for contributing this article.