Archaeology
in Hartlepool
Hartlepool’s
position on the north-east coast has given it
a rich and varied past as traders, invaders and
later industrialists brought their influence to
the area. Prehistoric settlers exploited its natural
resources and remains from the Mesolithic to the
Romans have been found at the Submerged Forest
near Seaton Carew. Roman period native settlements
have also been excavated at Catcote
and Newton Bewley.
An
Anglo-Saxon
monastery was established on the Headland
in the 640s AD. The Christian heritage of the
district was later consolidated by powerful Norman
Lords who built magnificent churches such as St.
Hilda’s on the Headland. They also reorganised
many of the local villages such as Elwick, Hart
and Dalton Piercy. The medieval town on the Headland
has been extensively excavated from the 1960’s
to the present day and is one of the best understood
small medieval ports in the British Isles.
Hartlepool
became industrialised from the early 1830s and
the new town of West Hartlepool was established.
At one time these new dock facilities made Hartlepool
the fourth busiest port in England after London,
Liverpool and Hull.
The
bulk of 19th century trade was carried out by
sea and this led to many shipping losses of this
stretch of coast. The remains of a collier brig
discovered at Seaton Carew are the only nationally
designated Protected Wreck site between the Wash
and the Solent.
Visit
the Hartlepool Timeline
Hartlepool
Archaeological Projects
The
Heugh Battery.
One
of only two remaining Gun Battery's to have seen
combat during both The First and Second World
Wars
Hartlepool
Submerged Forest
10,000 years ago Hartlepool Bay was dry-land covered
by a dense forest. Read about our long term work
into rediscovering this lost landscape.
Catcote
Romano British Settlement
Catcote is a prehistoric and Romano-British settlement
on the crest and slopes of a low hill on the edge
of the modern town of Hartlepool.
Saxon
Monastery
A concise summary of the archaeology of the Saxon
Monastery, incuding new discoveries made by the
Community Archaeology Project in 2003.
Time
Team at Hartlepool
Behind the scenes of the 1999 Time Team programme.
Medieval
Hartlepool
Including Southgate, Middlegate, the Medieval
Harbour, Town Wall & Sandwell Gate, the Friary
& St. Hilda's Church.
The
Seaton Shipwreck
An exceptional chance maritime find, proving to
be the most substantially intact wooden shipwreck
yet discovered on the North-East coast of England.
Late
Bronze Age Hoard at High Throston
Bronze Age remains are relatively rare in Hartlepool.
This 2002 metal-detector find was totally unexpected.
Visit
the Tees Archaology Projects page
Hartlepool
Links
PortCities
Hartlepool
An exciting and accessible learning resource
which focuses on Hartlepool's important maritime
history and development.
Destination
Hartlepool
The official website for information to assist
businesses and visitors from near or far.
 Hartlepool
Borough Council
Hartlepool became a unitary authority in April
1996 and was formerly part of Cleveland County
Council. The town lies on the North Sea coast,
in the north east of England and serves a population
of approximately 90,600. It covers an area of
9,441 hectares and includes the towns of Hartlepool,
Seaton Carew and a small number of villages. It
is the second smallest unitary council in England
and is remarkably self-contained.
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