"Historic Hartlepool" Top 5 Page for this destination Hartlepool by cheekymarieh

Hartlepool Travel Guide: 38 reviews and 55 photos

A Little History

Hartlepool actually began its existence in around 647AD. It was actually founded in the area that is now known as 'The Headland', a peninsular jutting out into the North Sea. It's church is St Hildas which has a gateway to the sea. In this spot there was an abbey. Some of the ancient walls still remain.

The more modern part of Hartlepool is 'West Hartlepool'. It didn't come into being until the middle of the 19th century. A local business man decided to build another harbour to compete with the old one. The area became an area of heavy industry - mainly steelmaking and shipbuilding.

In recent years the whole of Hartlepool has undergone a major redevelopment as the heavy industries closed down. The first results are somewhat promising and the Hartlepool of old that I remember is no longer. In fact, even the local football team seems to have been revitalised along with the buildings.

Legend Of The Monkey
The story of the monkey-hanging legend dates back to the time of the Napoleonic War when a ship was wrecked off the Hartlepool coast. The British were very suspicious about the French trying to send spies. As the local fisherman were watching the boat struggling with the conditions wreckage was washed up on the shore.

Amongst the wreckage lay what looked like a survivor from the ship. It was actually the ship's monkey dressed in a military uniform.

The fishermen tried to question the monkey and held the trial there on the beach. The sailors decided that the monkey was a French spy and they sentenced it to be hanged from the the mast of a fishing boat.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Some excellent restaurants
Cons:It can be cold and wet in winter
In a nutshell:A town undergoing regeneration

Last visit to Hartlepool: Jun 2005
Intro Updated Jun 12, 2005
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Reviews (5)

Good If You're On A Diet Restaurants (3)

The restaurant is located on Hartlepool Marina, an excellent setting. The interior of the restaurant is spotlessly clean... more travel advice

Hartlepool Marina Things to Do (1)

The Marina has been developed over the past few years and is now home to many restaurants, shops, cafes and bars. The... more travel advice

Hartleppol United Football Club Sports & Outdoors (1)

If you're a football fan and want to go and watch a good game of football in a traditional ground (instead of a... more travel advice

Delicious Mediterranean Meals - Hartlepool

Delicious Mediterranean Meals Restaurants (3)

My introdution to Krimos was when when they had the original restaurant in Seaton Carew. After the Marina development at... more travel advice

Comments (2)

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zlatiq Mar 24, 2007 at 9:01 AM

nice..i love water and even more restaurants by the water..hehehe
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steventilly Jul 17, 2004 at 12:43 AM

See you there soon!