Museum of Hartlepool
Encyclopedia
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 fine art collections are displayed at Hartlepool Art Gallery
.
It is free to enter and houses hundreds of exhibits telling the story of Hartlepool
, England
, a North East coastal town with a rich heritage in shipbuilding
, fishing
and the sea.
The largest exhibit is the Paddle Steam Ship PS Wingfield Castle
. Built in 1934, for many years it served as a passenger ferry across the Humber. It was restored in Hartlepool
and now is a floating exhibit and houses a coffee shop. Other exhibits include the first gas illuminated lighthouse, a 'sea monster' or merman
, a real coble
boat to climb upon and 'Peat Seaton', the oldest resident of Hartlepool
. You can also find out about the famous Monkey Legend, and why Hartlepudlians are often referred to as a Monkey hanger
. There is a temporary exhibition area in the museum which displays local, regional and national exhibitions.
Hartlepool's Maritime Experience
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...
. 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 fine art collections are displayed at Hartlepool Art Gallery
Hartlepool Art Gallery
Hartlepool Art Gallery is an art gallery in Hartlepool, County Durham, England.The gallery opened in 1996. It is located in Church Square within Christ Church, a restored Victorian church, built in 1854 and designed by the architect Edward Buckton Lamb...
.
It is free to enter and houses hundreds of exhibits telling the story of 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...
, 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...
, a North East coastal town with a rich heritage in shipbuilding
Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history.Shipbuilding and ship repairs, both...
, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
and the sea.
The largest exhibit is the Paddle Steam Ship PS Wingfield Castle
PS Wingfield Castle
The PS Wingfield Castle is a former Humber Estuary ferry, now preserved as a museum ship in Hartlepool, County Durham, England.The Wingfield Castle was built William Gray & Company at Hartlepool, and launched in 1934, along with a sister ship, the Tattershall Castle...
. Built in 1934, for many years it served as a passenger ferry across the Humber. It was restored in 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...
and now is a floating exhibit and houses a coffee shop. Other exhibits include the first gas illuminated lighthouse, a 'sea monster' or merman
Merman
Mermen are mythical male equivalents of mermaids – legendary creatures who have the form of a human from the waist up and are fish-like from the waist down.-Mythology:...
, a real 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 to climb upon and 'Peat Seaton', the oldest resident of 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...
. You can also find out about the famous Monkey Legend, and why Hartlepudlians are often referred to as a Monkey hanger
Monkey hanger
"Monkey hanger" is an affectionate term by which Hartlepudlians are often known.According to local folklore, the term originates from an incident in which a monkey was hanged in Hartlepool. During the Napoleonic wars, a French ship of the type chasse marée was wrecked off the coast of Hartlepool...
. There is a temporary exhibition area in the museum which displays local, regional and national exhibitions.