Hartlepool
Hartlepool is a coastal town in the North of England, many have never heard of it.
Hartlepool is the home of HMS Trincomalee and the National Royal Navy museum, however, it is another aspect of the town's nautical heritage that it is perhaps better known for.
Legend has it that coastal towns lived in constant fear of an invasion during the Napoleonic war. Fishermen and seafarers are a superstitious bunch at the best of times and observed all outsiders as potential spies.
During a storm a French ship struggled, observed by the town's fishing fleet. When it sunk off the coast of Hartlepool, the crew all lost at sea, except one. That one survivor was a Monkey dressed in military uniform. For many years it was stated that the locals, having never seen a real Frenchman and not being able to understand the monkey decided he must have been a french spy. It is said that during his trial the monkey failed to provide a defence and so he was sentenced to death by this Impromptu people's court and was hanged from the mast of a fishing boat.
One other alternative was that the Monkey was actually a powder monkey, these were often small boys that were used to supply cannon with powder during battle. A small french child would likely have been unable to communicate with locals through language barriers, his traumatic sinking and fear from being away from home.
Is it true?, who knows, it is likely that the story comes from a musical song written by Ned Covan in 1855, or maybe from an earlier song about a visiting Baboon.
Many Hartlepool residents seem proud of their Monkey Hanger nickname, with the local Football team Hartlepool FC known as the Monkey Hangers, and having a mascot called H'Angus the Monkey. The clubs fanzine is called MoneyBizz .
Two local rugby teams also incorporate monkeys into their logos. Hartlepool RFC and Hartlepool Rovers.
The famous Monkey is commemorated with this statue in the marina, which is used to raise money for local charities.
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