Premier Inn Hartlepool

The Historic Quay

by steventilly

Hartlepool Historic Quay is the centrepiece of the town's attempt to become a tourist destination, and it's actually a very good museum. It's designed as a replica of an old dock, as Hartlepool might have been in the 17th & 18th centuries.
(More in the "Must See" section)

Festivals & Carnivals

by steventilly

Hartlepool has a biennial Maritime Festival (on the even numbered years). It's a really great weekend and we have a great time there - it's really a pity that it's not held every year. It was on in July this year, though I won't swear that it's on the same month every time.
Later (in August) was the annual Carnival - this is more of the "travelling fair" type of thing and is less interesting to us, but still make for an evening out.
(More in the "Must See" Section).

Warm clothes

by Welwynbred

Make sure you take something warm. My Fiance's cousin had us walking along the sea front at Seaton Carew at 8 am. Wind off the Sea, great view but freezing! Don't forget your camera - I did! Nice Beach but see above

Historic Hartlepool

by cheekymarieh

"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.