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The
coastal town of Hartlepool lies on the North Sea, to
the south-east of the city of Durham. It ia a separate council
area , but we include it here.
The place
name derives from Old English and means 'hart island', refering
to stags seen in the area. An ancient settlement, Hartlepool
grew up in the 7th century around a convent founded on a headland
overlooking a natural harbour.
The
convent became famous under its abbess, St Hilda, (who served
from AD 649 - 57) but it was destroyed by the Vikings in AD
800. Today the site is marked by the beautiful 12th century
St Hilda's Church.
In medieval
times Hartlepool became a busy market town and the official
port of the County palantine of Durham.
The port
became more important in the mid-19th century when the coalfields
of south Durham were developed and a railway was built in
1845 to allow the coal to be exported. In 1847 a rival railway
terminus and docks were built nearby and the new town of West
Hartlepool sprung up around them.
The two
towns developed rapidly and modern Hartlepool is an amalgamation
of Old Hartlepool and West Hartlepool.
In 1967
the two settlements were joined officially and the term West
Hartlepool is now rarely used (except by their Rugby Union
team ! ).
In the
19th century the area became heavily industrialised with ironworks
and over 40 shipyards. It became a major target in World War
I and the first German raid against Britain took place here
on 16 December 1914.
During
the Great Depression the town suffered high levels of unemployment
and its shipbuilding and steelmaking industries did not recover
until World War II.
After
1945 the steel industry and shipbuilding declined sharply,
with 'Blanchland', the last ship to be built here,
completed in 1961.
After
high unemployment in the 1980s, Hartlepool's economy began
to recover in the 1990s with much new housing, the completion
of the new Marina and the regeneration of its Historic Quay.
Hartlepool's
Maritime Experience covers the Hartlepool Historic Quay, HMS
Trinacomalee and the Museum of Hartlepool, a single admission
charge covers all of them, but the Museum of Hartlepool has
free admission.
Hartlepool,
with its long maritime history is proud to host the Tall Ships'
Races in 2010.
The new
Marina and Middleton Grange Shopping Centre offer a top class
retail facilities.
A promenade
connects the Marina with seaside town of Seaton Carew. With
its broad sandy beaches, this was one of the Victorian's favourite
resorts in the North-East.
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Hartlepool
Hartlepools Historic Quay Maritime Avenue, Hartlepool TS24 0XZ
