The statue of Andy Capp. This loveable cartoon character can be seen outside the Harbour of Refuge Public house in Croft Terrace.

I've taken many photographs of old Hartlepool but not from this angle. On a boat trip out from Hartlepool Marina to the River Tees and back, I took this on the way home. It shows the beautiful houses on the ancient Town Wall.

A view taken from a boat in the bay. Look closely and you can see three churches - St. Mary's, St. Hilda's and the former St. Andrew's in York Place.

This photograph was taken, using a wide angle lens, from near the Harbour of Refuge (Pot House) looking across the bay towards Irvine's Quay, the Lifeboat Station to the centre left and the ancient houses on the Town Wall to the right. I took about five similar photographs on this day but decided to use this one with a Seagull in it.

The Sebastopol Cannon. I suppose I could subtitle this photograph 'From Russia with Love' as the plaque in old Hartlepool reads: A Trophy from Sebastopol - This cannon was captured from the Russian Army at the battle of Sebastopol during the Crimean War (1854-56). In October 1857, the then Secretary of State, Lord Panmure, offered the cannon to Hartlepool Borough Council who gratefully accepted it. The cannon was transported from London on the steam ship 'Margaret' at a total cost of £2.19s.3d., and, after a year's delay, arrived at Hartlepool in September, 1858.

The Abbey Church of St Hilda taken from Croft Gardens. If you'd like to see an impressive 3-D image of St. Hilda's Church by Digital Surveys, be sure to see their video on YouTube.

No matter where you are in old Hartlepool you will always see wonderful views of St. Hilda's Church. This is Croft Gardens in the summer with the flowers in bloom.

A stone statue of a fisherman in Croft Gardens with St. Hilda's Church in the background.

St Hilda's Church taken from Church Walk.

St. Hilda's Church, Sandwell Gate, Croft Gardens and the Town Wall.

A similar view as above but, as you can see, taken in the winter with a covering of snow on the ground. It would make a great Christmas Card this!

Hartlepool resident Ian Malcolmson sent us these photographs of St. Hilda's Church and the surrounding area then and now. The old photograph, from the 1930s we suggest, shows the houses in Middlegate as they used to be with Prissick Street School to the rear of the church. If you click on the above photograph it will open to a larger image.

A view from Durham Street showing St. Hilda's Church, on the left, and St. Mary's Church. Research shows that old Hartlepool, over the years, had no less than twelve churches. They were Baptist Chapel 1852; Holy Trinity 1852 to the late 50's or early 60's; St. Andrews; St. Hilda's; St. Mary's; Salvation Army; St. Helens; St. John's Presbyterian Chapel 1830; Independent Chapel 1843; Primative Methodist 1850; United Presbyterian 1840 and the Wesleyan Methodist 1839.

The Duke of Cleveland's former summer house which is opposite St. Hilda's Church, Church Walk, in old Hartlepool. The main building had no windows overlooking the church as the Duke allegedly had a disagreement with the Rector when it was built. It was recently used as a Conservative Club but is being restored to open as a restaurant and function suite during late summer, 2013.

A 55 ton Chieftain Tank is one of the many exhibits on show at the Heugh Battery Museum in Hartlepool. The museum is open Thursday to Sunday between 1000 and 1600.

From time to time, at the Heugh Battery Museum, re-enactors bring history to life through costume and display. Be sure to see the Heugh Battery website for more information.

The picturesque Town Wall looking towards the Pilot's Pier.

A colourful view of the Town Wall taken from the Banjo Pier. The building on the left, known today as the old Gospel Hall, used to be the Seamens' Mission. The grey building was once used by the Hartlepool Port Authority and the building on the right was named after the Chalybeate Spring. Thanks to Ian Malcolmson for the information on these properties.

Many of the houses in Regent Street and Regent Square are Grade II Listed buildings. You can see more photographs of this area of Hartlepool, and read detailed comprehensive information, on the British Listed Buildings website under the Hartlepool, County Durham section. A link to the site can be found in the right hand navigation pane.

This photograph shows a red and white coloured house in Regent Street with an arch leading to a back lane. The black and light green coloured houses are in Regent Square and are all Grade II listed buildings.

St. Helen's Masonic Lodge in Regent Street. We understand this was previously a chapel. However, we do know, according to Sir Cuthbert Sharp's book "A History of Hartlepool" that the St. Helen's Masonic Lodge No.774 of Hartlepool was first constituted in the town on Friday, September 11th, 1846. It held its meetings periodically at the King's Head Hotel. The lodge photographed above is No. 531.

Redheugh Gardens and the War Memorial near the sea front.

The angel on top of the War Memorial in Redheugh Gardens.

The Pilot's Pier taken from the Banjo Pier in, what used to be, Middleton.

Hartlepool Public Library. This building, on Northgate in old Hartlepool, was presented for a Public Library by Andrew Carnegie, Esq LLD. The foundation stone was laid by Alderman H.H Murray on May 27th, 1903. In later years it was used as a Maritime Museum and now has reverted to council offices. One time it was earmarked for demolition until the people of Hartlepool moved in an opposed it. You can see other photographs of the library and some beautifully crafted stonework, dated 1904, in the right hand column.

Just one of the many popular watering holes in Hartlepool - the Cosmopolitan Hotel which is on the corner of Middlegate and Durham Street.

The old Friarage Manor House, which was once part of St. Hilda's Hospital in Hartlepool and built in 1605, has stood empty for many years. It is in a bad state of repair and many believe this Grade II listed building should be totally restored.

As mentioned, this building was part of St. Hilda's Hospital and, we believe, the upper part was the Childrens' ENT Ward. Looking at the rear of the roof, on both of these photographs, there appears to be a chimney. In the 1960's the only ward that had an open fire was the Male Geriatric Ward.

Of course, much of this building could not be seen at this time as the rest of the hospital had been built around it. The only thing visible from the inside of the hospital was the large cross at the top - which you can see in greater detail by clicking on the small photograph in the right hand hand column. Also remembered, in the sluice of the Childrens' ENT Ward, was a stained glass window.

The Morison Hall - once a grand old building that was used by the Boys' Brigade for their meetings and band practice and also for functions and socials. As you can see, it's in a sorry state of repair and is presently up for sale.

The old Throston Engine House, in Cemetery Road, Hartlepool dates back to 1830. The hauling engine - which was steam powered - used to draw coal wagons up a railway incline to top of the former coal staithes. A dispute between railway companies over use of these coal-shipping facilities was major factor leading to founding of new town of West Hartlepool in 1840's. The Throston Engine House is one of many Grade II listed buildings in old Hartlepool.

The railway wagons used to roll across the old Throston Bridge which has been long demolished. Thanks to the Headland Local History Group for the use of the above photograph.

The demolition of Throston Bridge in 1973. You can see another image in the right hand column.

The Comet Cinema which stood on the corner of Thorpe Street and Northgate was never finished. It never opened, either, because of the Second World War. It was demolished in the 70s about the same time as Throston Bridge came down. Photograph courtesy of Ian Malcolmson.

One of two swing bridges that were in operation around Hartlepool Docks many years ago. This one was near the North Basin, on Central Road, and the other on lower Middleton Road, near Navigation Point, close to the entrance of the Marina. Photograph courtesy of Alan Grange.

A few childhood memories came flooding back as I took a walk under the Horseshoe Tunnel near the old Brus Arms at West View. A stroll along the North Sands took me to the old Steetley Pier - what's left of it.

A series of dramatic waves taken at the New Pier (Heugh Breakwater) in old Hartlepool on October 24th, 2010. Photographs © Stan Laundon.

Them and us: Even after the amalgamation of the two towns - Hartlepool and West Hartlepool in 1967 - there's still the 'them and us' attitude from some of the older folk. The people in West will still refer to 'those folks over there' as Monkey Hangers and many in old Hartlepool, the original settlement, will call those from the new town West Dockers.

Yes, there is still 'friendly banter' between West and old Hartlepool but why is it, many ask, that West Hartlepool stole the monkey and have a statue of it in the marina? A friend of mine who lives on the Headland (that's what they call it these days to the annoyance of many) told me this story: "Belonging to the old side I am extra proud that there is a tradition that when the marina was being created a time capsule was discovered and inside was this piece of poetry":

"They said we hung a monkey – it was only said in jest,
In truth the darn thing did escape and started a town called West”

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