Hartlepool Monkey
Art In Hartlepool, County Durham
A sculpture of a Monkey based on a local legend.

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?”
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How To Find Hartlepool Monkey
Where Is Hartlepool Monkey?
Lat / Long
54.690802, -1.198792
What three words
Where To Park For Hartlepool Monkey?
Lat / Long
54.691529, 54.691529
What three words
Parking is available nearby in the Navigation Point car park.
Contributed by Andrew Gardner
I love being outdoors, in nature, and experiencing the relaxation it brings. Wandering through the northern countryside seeing unexpected buildings, historic places and occasionally surprised wildlife is one of life's great pleasures.
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