Hartlepool's Maritime Experience
Encyclopedia
Hartlepool's Maritime Experience is a visitor attraction in Hartlepool
, County Durham
, in the northeast of England
. The concept of the attraction is the thematic re-creation of an 18th century seaport, in the time of Lord Nelson, Napoleon and the Battle of Trafalgar
. HMS Trincomalee
, a Royal Navy
frigate
and Britain's oldest warship afloat is at the centre of the quay. She was built in Bombay, India in 1817. The 190th anniversary of the ship's official launch was on Friday 12 October 2007.
Before April 2005 it was known as Hartlepool Historic Quay. It was built by Teesside Development Corporation
as part of the economic regeneration of old industrial sites of Teesside
, on the derelict docks that was formally used for industries such as ship building and the timber yards etc.
It opened to the public July 1994. The attraction consists of Gift shop and reception, Marine Barracks and Guard Room, a number of period shops and houses, Fighting Ships, Pressganged, Sir William Gray Suite and Baltic Rooms, Skittle Square and children’s playship, Bistro and Quayside Coffee Shop, Children’s Maritime Adventure Centre, HMS Trincomalee, Wingfield Castle
and the Museum of Hartlepool
.
The PS Wingfield Castle, preserved at the Museum of Hartlepool is a floating exhibit and cafe. There are hundreds of other exhibits in the museum charting the history of the town from prehistoric times right up to the present day. One of the most popular features is the description of the Hartlepool monkey legend. Others include a full size coble
boat, a lighthouse, a genuine German shell from the Bombardment of Hartlepool and many ships' models and engine displays.
The site has seen some improvements in 2006/2007 including a renewed Fighting Ships which is an audio / visual tour of a warship. There is now a new character which is Jim Henshaw, a young powder monkey.
New for 2008 include a HMS Trincomalee Exhibition, Viewing Balcony overlooking HMS Trincomalee, Upgrading and re-design of the Maritime Adventure Centre and the Restoration of P.S.S. Wingfield Castle.
Nearby is Hartlepool Marina and Navigation Point where there are many restaurants and bars. Hartlepool
is the host port for the final leg of The Tall Ships' Races
in 2010.
Hartlepool
Hartlepool is a town and port in North East England.It was founded in the 7th century AD, around the Northumbrian monastery of Hartlepool Abbey. The village grew during the Middle Ages and developed a harbour which served as the official port of the County Palatine of Durham. A railway link from...
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, in the northeast of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The concept of the attraction is the thematic re-creation of an 18th century seaport, in the time of Lord Nelson, Napoleon and the Battle of Trafalgar
Battle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar was a sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French Navy and Spanish Navy, during the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars ....
. HMS Trincomalee
HMS Trincomalee
HMS Trincomalee is a Royal Navy Leda-class sailing frigate built shortly following the end of the Napoleonic Wars. She is now restored as a museum ship in Hartlepool, UK.-History:...
, a Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
and Britain's oldest warship afloat is at the centre of the quay. She was built in Bombay, India in 1817. The 190th anniversary of the ship's official launch was on Friday 12 October 2007.
Before April 2005 it was known as Hartlepool Historic Quay. It was built by Teesside Development Corporation
Teesside Development Corporation
The Teesside Development Corporation was a government-backed development corporation that was established in 1987 to fund and manage regeneration projects in the former-county of Cleveland in North East England....
as part of the economic regeneration of old industrial sites of Teesside
Teesside
Teesside is the name given to the conurbation in the north east of England made up of the towns of Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, Redcar, Billingham and surrounding settlements near the River Tees. It was also the name of a local government district between 1968 and 1974—the County Borough of...
, on the derelict docks that was formally used for industries such as ship building and the timber yards etc.
It opened to the public July 1994. The attraction consists of Gift shop and reception, Marine Barracks and Guard Room, a number of period shops and houses, Fighting Ships, Pressganged, Sir William Gray Suite and Baltic Rooms, Skittle Square and children’s playship, Bistro and Quayside Coffee Shop, Children’s Maritime Adventure Centre, HMS Trincomalee, Wingfield Castle
Wingfield Castle
Wingfield Castle, Wingfield, Suffolk, England was the ancestral home of the Wingfield family and their heirs, the De La Poles, Earls and Dukes of Suffolk, but is now a private house....
and the Museum of Hartlepool
Museum of Hartlepool
The Museum of Hartlepool opened in 1996 and is located within the attraction Hartlepool's Maritime Experience. It houses the collections once on display in the Gray Art Gallery and Museum and the Maritime Museum which was on the Headland, Hartlepool, both are now closed...
.
The PS Wingfield Castle, preserved at the Museum of Hartlepool is a floating exhibit and cafe. There are hundreds of other exhibits in the museum charting the history of the town from prehistoric times right up to the present day. One of the most popular features is the description of the Hartlepool monkey legend. Others include a full size coble
Coble
The coble is a type of open traditional fishing boat which developed on the North East coast of England. The southern-most examples occur around Hull The coble is a type of open traditional fishing boat which developed on the North East coast of England. The southern-most examples occur around Hull...
boat, a lighthouse, a genuine German shell from the Bombardment of Hartlepool and many ships' models and engine displays.
The site has seen some improvements in 2006/2007 including a renewed Fighting Ships which is an audio / visual tour of a warship. There is now a new character which is Jim Henshaw, a young powder monkey.
New for 2008 include a HMS Trincomalee Exhibition, Viewing Balcony overlooking HMS Trincomalee, Upgrading and re-design of the Maritime Adventure Centre and the Restoration of P.S.S. Wingfield Castle.
Nearby is Hartlepool Marina and Navigation Point where there are many restaurants and bars. Hartlepool
Hartlepool
Hartlepool is a town and port in North East England.It was founded in the 7th century AD, around the Northumbrian monastery of Hartlepool Abbey. The village grew during the Middle Ages and developed a harbour which served as the official port of the County Palatine of Durham. A railway link from...
is the host port for the final leg of The Tall Ships' Races
The Tall Ships' Races
The Tall Ships' Races are races for sail training "tall ships" . The races are designed to encourage international friendship and training for young people in the art of sailing. The races are held annually in European waters and consists of two racing legs of several hundred nautical miles, and a...
in 2010.
External links
- Official website — includes pictures and video clips
- Hartlepool's Maritime Experience from This is Hartlepool