HARTLEPOOL, a parliamentary borough of Durham, Eng land, embracing the municipal borough of Hartlepool or East Hartlepool and the county borough of West Hartlepool. The pop. (1931) of Hartlepool was 20,545, and of West Hartlepool 68, 134. The towns are on the coast of the North sea separated by Hartlepool bay, with a harbour, and both have stations on the L.N.E. railway, 247 m. N. from London. The surrounding country is bleak, and the coast is low. The ancient market town of Hartlepool lies on a peninsula which at the end of a sweep of the coast, embraces the bay. Its naturally strong position was formerly fortified, and part of the walls, serving as a promenade, remain. The parish church of St. Hilda, is late Norman and Early English, with a massive tower, heavily buttressed. There is a borough hall in Italian style. The municipal area embraces the three townships of Seaton Carew, a seaside resort ; Stranton, with its church of All Saints, of the i4th century, on a very early site; and Throston.
The two Hartlepools are officially considered as one port. The harbour, which embraces two tidal basins and six docks aggregat ing 200 acres, included in which are timber docks (57 acres), with excellent facilities for storing timber. There are five graving docks, admitting vessels of S5o ft. length and io to 21 ft. draught. The depth of water on the dock sills varies from 162 ft. at neap tides to 25 ft. at spring tides. A breakwater three-quarters of a mile long protects the entrance to the harbour. An important trade is carried on in the export of coal, ships, machinery, iron and other metallic ores, woollens and cottons, and in the import of timber, sugar, iron and copper ores, and eggs. The principal in dustries are shipbuilding (iron), boiler and engineering works, iron and brass foundries, steam saw and planing mills, flour-mills, paper and paint factories, and soapworks. The parliamentary borough returns one member.
Hartlepool (Hertepull, Hertipol) grew up round the monastery (founded 64o), was destroyed by the Danes (800) and rebuilt by Ecgred, bishop of Lindisfarne. Bishop Hugh de Puiset ) allowed French and Flemish troops to land at Hartlepool to aid the Scots. It became the property of the see of Durham in 1189, and in 1201 received a charter from the bishop. Other charters were granted in 1230, in 1328 by Edward III., in 1397 by Richard II., and minor ones followed until Elizabeth incorporated the borough in 1593. During the civil wars Hartlepool was taken by the Scots and garrisoned by them until 1647. As a borough of the Palatinate, Hartlepool did not receive parliamentary representa tion until the 19th century. In 1216 John confirmed the market on Wednesday and the fair on the feast of St. Lawrence; this fair was extended to fifteen days by the grant of 123o, while the charter of 1595 also granted a fair and market. During the i4th century trade was carried on with Germany, Spain and Holland, and in 1346 Hartlepool provided five ships for the French war. The markets were still considerable in Camden's day, but declined during the 18th century, when Hartlepool became fashionable as a watering-place.