Loftus, North Yorkshire

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Loftus
Loftus shown within North Yorkshire
Population	7,050
OS grid reference	NZ716185
- London	263.3 mi
Unitary authority	Redcar and Cleveland
Ceremonial county	North Yorkshire
Region	North East
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	SALTBURN-BY-THE-SEA
Postcode district	TS13
Dialling code	01287
Police	Cleveland
Fire	Cleveland
Ambulance	North East
European Parliament	North East England
UK Parliament	Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
List of places: UK • England • Yorkshire

Coordinates: 54°33′25″N 0°53′31″W / 54.5569, -0.8919

Loftus is a town in the borough of Redcar and Cleveland and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England. It lies in a picturesque region sandwiched between the breathtaking cliffs of Hummersea and the spectacular North York Moors. It was formally known as Lofthouse^[1].

The Loftus area has been inhabited since at least the 7th century, the approximate date of 109 graves in an Anglo-Saxon cemetery under excavation since 2005^[2]. The site is the only known royal Anglo-Saxon royal burial site in the north of England^[2].

The town's history also includes the character Sigurd the Dane, who features in Macbeth as Siward. The Earl had a residence nearby or so it is rumoured. The famous 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 these men.

The two main churches in the town are St Leonard's Church of England and St Joseph and St Cuthbert Catholic Churches. There are three Primary Schools (St Joseph's Catholic, Handale Primary, and Hummersea). The Catholic children tend to go to Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Science College in nearby Redcar.

The members of Loftus and District Flower Club won Gold Medals at the 2005 Chelsea Flower Show.

Though a part of the Borough of Redcar and Cleveland most inhabitants tend to consider themselves as residents of North Yorkshire.

Loftus has many facilities: Loftus Swimming Baths (where the swimming group Loftus Dolphins train), Loftus Youth Club, [1]Loftus Army Cadets, Scouts, Cubs etc. It also has a Firestation and part time Police Station.