Stan Laundon                                                                            Sharing Memories

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HARTLEPOOL

The infamous Monkey

The "Make A Wish For The Monkey" statue is in Hartlepool Marina, near the lock gates. Coins thrown into the monkey's lap are donated to Hartlepool & District Hospice.

Did you know that residents of Hartlepool are known as Monkey Hangers?

As the story goes, during the Napoleonic Wars a ship was wrecked off the coast and the only survivor who made it to land on a raft was a monkey. The people of old Hartlepool - known as Crofters - being unable to understand a word this little stranger spoke decided that he must have been either a Frenchman, or a spy, so they hanged him. The only problem with this tale is that the people of Hartlepool, being sailors and fishermen and living on a large natural harbour, would certainly have known the difference between an animal and a Frenchman! Nevertheless, the monkey legend has stayed with the townsfolk of Hartlepool ever since.

A folk song which was written by Alan Wilkinson and sung by the Teesside Fettlers tells the story of "The Hartlepool Monkey." It appears on their CD called "Noting The Changes" which you can buy direct from their website.

Andy Capp

A £20,000 bronze statue of Andy Capp was unveiled in June 2007, by Jean Smythe, the widow of Hartlepool-born cartoonist, Reg Smythe. The statue can be seen in Croft Terrace next to the Harbour of Refuge public house.
Follow this link to see more photographs of Andy Capp.

The Hart or Stag

The name of Hartlepool, according to the author Sir Cuthbert Sharp, comes from origins unknown. But in the time of Bede, the old town on the peninsula, was called Heruteu - the island of the stag. By mediaeval times, the town was known as Hertepol - the pool of the hart or, hart in the pool - becoming Hart-le-Pool.

St. Hilda's Church and Croft Gardens in the Spring

Old Hartlepool and the Abbey Church of St. Hilda in the background with the modern apartments of Hartlepool Marina in the foreground. This photograph was taken from the top of Christ Church which is now the home of the local Art Gallery. I climbed 174 flights of stairs to get to the top which cost me all of 50p!

A view of the Fish Sands from the Pilot's Pier with the Harbour of Refuge public house - known locally as the Pot House - visible over the town wall with St. Hilda's Church in the background. The Fish Sands has always been a popular place when the weather is good!

 The Fish Sands, Town Wall and Sandwell Gate.

The Abbey Church of St. Hilda

The ancient and the modern

The ancient church of St. Hilda and the modern Celtic Cross - both representing the Christian tradition of the town. Hartlepool is one of the oldest Christian sites, dating back 1,300 years. St. Bega and St. Hilda both lived in the ancient settlement. You can see a larger image of the Celtic Cross by clicking the photograph in the left hand navigation pane.

The Borough Hall and the Headland Town Square

The Friarage Manor House

 This historic building, which was part of the old St. Hilda's Hospital, has stood empty and almost derelict for years.
Politicians are talking about the need for more youth centres - so this would be an ideal place for such a venture. It is part of our heritage and should be preserved at all cost.

 Sir William Gray, the first Mayor of West Hartlepool between 1887-8. The statue is situated in Church Square in front of the Art Gallery and Information centre.

As the saying goes 'the best things in life are free' and Hartlepool Art Gallery is no exception. With a frequently changing exhibition programme, you can see contemporary art exhibitions, photography, sculpture and work of national, regional and local importance.

Ralph Ward Jackson, the founder of West Hartlepool with Christ Church to the rear. The church, which cost £8,000 to build, was opened in 1854 and is now the home of the Art Gallery. Ralph Ward Jackson was the first MP for the Hartlepools. He was born on June 7th, 1806 and died on August 6th, 1880.

Seaton Carew as seen from the North Gare

Sunset over Hartlepool Marina

Hartlepool Marina, said to be one of the finest in Europe, was built at a cost of more than £50 million pounds. Further development is planned as the town looks forward to 2010 with more than 100 Tall Ships expecting to sail into Hartlepool for the spectacle after they've sailed from Kristiansand, in Norway, on the second and final leg of the race. During their stay, the ships will be berthed in Jackson Dock and Hartlepool Marina, and there will be a host of special events organised in celebration. More than a million visitors are expected to descend on the town - between August 7th and August 10th, 2010 - which has been described as "Hartlepool's biggest ever party".

As well as the Marina itself, which has 500 fully serviced pontoon berths and a selection of quayside births, the area around it has some excellent bars and restaurants. Whatever you fancy, I am sure you will find something here to suit your taste - whether it's Algerian, Bangladeshi, Chinese, Indian, Italian, Japanese, Mediterranean cuisine, Spanish, Thai, a bistro, fast food or even good ol' fish and chips!

Victory Square and Redheugh Gardens with the war memorial and lighthouse near the Heugh Breakwater

The Heugh Breakwater

Stormy seas hit the Heugh Breakwater in old Hartlepool. You can just see Industrial Teesside
and the Cleveland Hills in the background.

The spring tides during March, 2009 exposed the skeleton of an old wooden boat on Middleton Beach, in Hartlepool. Port Cities tells the full story.

Hartlepool - or West Hartlepool as it was - has a great tradition of shipbuilding which goes back many years. Please visit our Ships page and read about 'Hartlepool Built' which is dedicated to the men who built those vessels and sailed on them.

If we want North East England to flourish, we need to continue to work together to raise awareness of the region as a fantastic place to live, work, study, visit, do business and invest. With North East England you can play your part.

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