Hartlepool Monkey

The Hartlepool Monkey, a bronze statue perched on a plinth overlooking the town's marina, is a curious emblem of local identity. It commemorates a legend that, while likely apocryphal, has become deeply ingrained in the town's folklore. The story tells of a monkey, washed ashore during the Napoleonic Wars, who was mistaken for a French spy and subsequently hanged. This seemingly outlandish tale has not only given rise to the nickname "Monkey Hangers" for the people of Hartlepool, but also inspired local humour and cultural expression.

The exact origins of the monkey legend remain shrouded in mystery. While the earliest known reference appears in an 1855 song by Edward "Ned" Corvan, a Victorian travelling performer, it's possible the story predates this by several decades. Some historians speculate that the legend may have evolved from a real-life incident involving a baboon that accompanied Cossack soldiers to Newcastle in 1825. The baboon, known for its mischievous antics, may have inspired the tale of the Hartlepool monkey.

Despite the lack of concrete evidence to support the legend, it has endured for generations, becoming an integral part of Hartlepool's identity. In the 1990s, the statue was commissioned in bronze although there is no information about the sculptor. The statue, unveiled in 1998, depicts the monkey in a contemplative pose, seemingly gazing out to sea. It quickly became a beloved local landmark, attracting tourists and locals alike.

The Hartlepool Monkey's enduring appeal lies in its ability to evoke a sense of local pride. It has also famously inspired the town's football club mascot, H'Angus the Monkey, who ended up being elected mayor three times, or at least the man inside the costume did!

Regardless of its historical veracity, the legend of the Hartlepool Monkey continues to entertain. It serves as a reminder of the power of folklore to shape local identity and provide a shared sense of history, even if that history is somewhat embellished.

The song mentioned above, by Tyneside singer / songwriter Ned Corvan, is called “Who Hung the Monkey” and if you want to know how is goes, the lyrics are below!

In former times when war and strife

From o'er the channel threatened life

When all was ready for the knife

To watch the Frenchmen funky-o

The fishermen with their courage high

Seized what they thought a real French spy

“Kill him”, says one, “up him to die”

They did and they hung the monkey-o

Dirim day, do-a-day

Dirim day and a daddy-o

Dirim day, do-a-day

They did and they hung the monkey-o

They tried each move to make him speak

They tortured Pug till he loud did squeak

“That's French” says one, another, “Greek”

The fishermen then got drunky-o

“He's hair all over” the wives did cry

“Oh, what un woman with him would lie?”

Wish fish guts they bunged up his eyes

Before they hung the monkey-o

Now some the monkey did bewail

For although dumb he had a tale

He'd sooner p'raps have gone to jail

For Pug was turning funky-o

The monkey made some curious mugs

When they shaved his head and clipped his lugs

Then it's “here's the way to serve humbugs”

Before they hung the monkey-o

“Hammer his ribs, the thundering thief

Pummel his pate, man, with yer neef

He's landed here for nought but grief

He's old Napoleon's uncky-o”

To poor Pug thus all hands behaved

“Cut off his Jimmy” they rowed and raved

Then one cries out “He's never been shaved”

Before they hung the monkey-o

Then they put him in a grid-iron hot

The monkey then quite lively got

He grinned his teeth at all the lot

And rolled his eyes quite spunky-o

Then a fisherman up to poor Pug goes

Saying, “Hang him now to end his woes”

The monkey flew and bit off his nose

So it's off to the Moor with the monkey-o

But let us hope that on the sea

We might maintain our dignity

May France and England long agree

And never get so funky-o As for Pug, I've had my say

And former times have passed away

Still they cry to this very day

“Boys, who hung the monkey-o?”