Today, only a fragment of Hartlepool’s medieval town wall endures. Rising 18 feet high and six feet thick, it overlooks the Fish Sands and includes the pointed arch of the Sandwell Gate. Though this is but a small portion, it still offers a splendid glimpse of the town wall’s former defences.
The wall had originally ten towers, though it did not fully enclose the town. The cliffs on the east and south sides, once formidable natural barriers, were later diminished by railway construction. The wall itself stretched from the old pier, across the harbour, to the isthmus, creating a safe haven for ships. Access to the town was controlled by a gated opening in the wall and the harbour was protected by a boom-gate.
The town’s history bears the scars of the devastating raids by Robert Bruce and his Scottish forces. After the English defeat at Bannockburn, Bruce’s troops repeatedly attacked the region, plundering, burning, and enslaving the inhabitants. Many fled to sea with their belongings to escape capture. These Scottish attacks spread famine and terror throughout the area.
The Bishop of Durham endeavoured to aid the suffering population, but eventually succumbed to the strain. Despite the church’s condemnation of Bruce’s actions, the bishop was compelled to pay a ransom to secure a brief truce. The capture of a Scottish vessel by a local ship captain enraged Bruce, prompting a renewed threat against Hartlepool.
To defend themselves, the townspeople built the wall, funded by taxes on goods entering the town. It appears the wall was completed just in time to repel a final Scottish assault. Though Hartlepool eventually recovered, the impact of Bruce’s raids was profound. His reputation as a Scottish hero is overshadowed by the cruelty inflicted upon this region.
Source:
Horton, Minnie C. “The Story of Cleveland”. Cleveland County Libraries. 1979.
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