The ancient borough of Hartlepool lies on the north east coast of England. Its history is long and proud. Though it has not been proven, it is thought to have been used as a port as early as Roman times.
Around about AD 640 a monastery was founded by the Irish St. Bega. This was one of the first Christian foundation on the north east coast. It was sited on, or near to the site which is now the fine old church of St. Hilda's, which was built by William de Brus, Lord of Hartness. The construction of St. Hilda's began c1190.
In the year 1201 Harterpol as it was then called, received a Royal Charter from King John, which freed the people of the town from bondage. The population at that time would probably have been about 500 souls.
1322 - Hartlepool is recorded as being raided by the Scots.
Five ships set sail from Hartlepool in 1346. They were fitted for battle and had aboard 145 seamen on their way to join King Edward 111s fleet at the siege of Calais.
In 1569 seventeen people who rebelled against the new Protestant faith were hanged in the Market place.
The black death plague visited Hartlepool in 1587 taking it's toll of the townsfolk.
Scottish forces took over the town in 1644. The occupation lasted three days.
In 1765 the poet Thomas Gray wrote in a letter to a friend "I have been for two days in Hartlepool - I am delighted with the place - I have nowhere seen a taller, more robust or healthy race - Nobody dies but of drowning or old age.
About 1800 during the war with Napoleon, the famous legend of the people of Hartlepool hanging a monkey arose, and thus began -
THE GREAT HARTLEPOOL SECRET!!!
