HARTLEPOOL - OLD HARTLEPOOL - THE HEADLAND

This photograph was taken from the old Banjo Pier in Middleton. As well as the Grade II Listed buildings in the centre, you can see the spire of the Borough Hall and St. Hilda's Church towering above the skyline. If you click on the image you can view it in a larger size.

One of two excellent bowling greens in old Hartlepool. This one is at the junction of Friar Terrace, Olive Street and The Lawns. The other is also in this same vicinity at the end of the Town Moor.

The Town Square underwent a renovation programme during the early summer of 2019 and finally re-opened to the public later that year.

St. Hilda's Church, as seen from the High Street in old Hartlepool.

St. Hilda's Church and Croft Gardens in the early afternoon sunshine.

This photograph of St. Mary's Church in Durham Street, Hartlepool, was taken from the beer garden of a well known public house - with permission granted!

Fish Sands

The Fish Sands in old Hartlepool with St. Hilda's Church on the right. You can also see the top of St. Mary's Church in Durham Street and the spire of the Borough Hall in Middlegate.

The sea defences have been strengthened along parts of the Town Wall in old Hartlepool. New paving has been laid and an inner wall constructed towards the Grade II listed houses on the sea front.

The Morison Hall was 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 see it now, with this photograph taken during mid-April 2016, and after the local council approved planning application, it has been turned into luxury flats with great progress being made following the restoration work. The Morison Hall was actually built as a Methodist Church. It became a Boy's Brigade hall when they took the building over which gave its name from their founder Dr. Bertie Morison. Photographs copyright © Stan Laundon.

The former Church of St. Andrew in York Place which is now Mary Rowntrees - a cafe and restaurant. It is also a Grade II listed building and can be seen on the Historic England website.

The statue of Andy Capp. This loveable cartoon character can be seen outside The Pot House public house in Croft Terrace. The current owners of the pub have officially named it The Pot House changing it from its original name of The Harbour of Refuge.

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. Several are Grade II Listed.

Another view of the Town Wall but taken from the Pilot's Pier - and how nice it was to see this photograph featured on both BBC Look North and ITV Tyne Tees weather.

As the sun begins to set, and a beautiful rainbow shines on old Hartlepool, a little yacht heads to the safety of home.

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!

This view of Hartlepool was taken with a 100-400mm lens from the top of the old Christ Church in Church Square. These days, of course, the church is now the home of the Art Gallery & Information Centre.

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 Victoria Buildings at the junction of Middlegate and Victoria Street is another Grade II listed building in old Hartlepool. These former offices and shops were built in 1853.

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 Seamen's 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.

The Bombardment of the Hartlepools Memorial which stands near the Heugh Battery and Sebastopol Cannon. You can read details of the plaque in the right hand column.

Middlegate in old Hartlepool has two Grade II listed buildings on the left hand side. At the top is the Cosmopolitan Hotel at the junction with Durham Street.

Redheugh Gardens and the War Memorial near the sea front. To the right is the Heugh Lighthouse and the Sebastopol Cannon.

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

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 private 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.

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

Four popular public houses in old Hartlepool which are, on the top left, The Cosmopolitan Hotel at the junction of Durham Street and Middlegate, top right is The Globe on Northgate, on the lower left is The Fishermans Arms on Southgate with the Pot House (The Harbour of Refuge) lower right with an impressive mural painted on the side by Durham Spray Paints.

The old Friarage Manor House, which is Grade II Listed, was once part of St. Hilda's Hospital in Hartlepool and built in 1605. When it was the hospital we believe that the upper part was the Childrens' ENT Ward. Looking at the roof, on 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. Thanks to a former nurse, Miss KW, for providing this information.

The only thing visible from the inside of St. Hilda's Hospital was the large cross at the top of the Friarage Manor House. Also remembered, in the sluice of the Childrens' ENT Ward, was a stained glass window.

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.

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.

Even though the photograph above is quite old I never get tired of seeing it. It was taken early 2011 and was voted as the weather photograph of the month for February 2011 and was in the BBC Look North "Children in Need" calendar. You can see it larger when clicking on it.

The power of the waves hitting the Heugh Pier (New Pier) in Old Hartlepool. It's a great place to take photographs but you have to be very careful as the North Sea can be very dangerous. This was taken using a zoom lens and, yes, I was quite away from the pier.

If you'd like to view another selection of photographs of old Hartlepool, together with musical accompaniment of the song "The Hartlepool Monkey" by The Teesside Fettlers, be sure to click here or on the photograph above to enjoy a video on You Tube.

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? The late Bill Hunter who, for many years, lived on the Headland (that's what they call it these days to the annoyance of many) told me this story: "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”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

................. This page is dedicated to the memory of a dear friend Bill Hunter - RIP ... ....

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Photographs on this page are © copyright Stan Laundon, unless otherwise stated, and are not to be used, or copied, without prior written permission.