Hartlepool Chain Towers (The Gatehouse Record)

Hartlepool Chain Towers

In the civil parish of Hartlepool.
In the historic county of Durham; County Palatinate of.
Modern Authority of Hartlepool.
1974 county of Cleveland.

OS Map Grid Reference: NZ524334
Latitude 54.69690° Longitude -1.19003°

Hartlepool Chain Towers has been described as a probable Chain Tower.

There are no visible remains.

Description

There was a watergate for fishermen while the main harbour entrance was guarded by two large round towers with a boom chain between. (PastScape ref. Daniels)

Cottonian MS. Jul. c. ii, fol. 318 (278), a 16th-century MS. compiled from records in the Exchequer of Durham (cf. Surtees, op. cit. iii, 119, who in quoting a statement from this MS. as to the founder of Hartlepool Friary gives 'Master Latton, one of the visitors of the Northern Abbeys before the Dissolution,' as the author), which contains the following note: 'The same Brus {i.e. the founder of Guisborough Priory and the reputed founder of Hartlepool Friary} builded the haven and wall about the towne of Hertlepole with to towers on eche syde of the haven and a chayne to be drawne between them near the haven, which haven would hold a c sayle.' (VCH a footnote regarding the supposed foundation of the town walls by Robert Bruce - something for which there is no evidence)

See Hartlepool town wall for full bibliography. The round towers are well attested but the supposed chain is less well supported. It is not mentioned by earlier writers who saw the walls in a much better state. However such chains were in common use, and there presence may be a reasonable assumption.

Links to mapping and other online resources

Data >

PastScape

Maps >

Data/Maps >

Magic

Air Photos >

Photos >

Sources of information, references and further reading

English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s) 27813.
Further information may be available from the holder of the county Historic Environment Record.

Books
- Page, Wm (ed), 1928, VCH Durham Vol. 3 p. 265-6n32 online transcription
Periodical Articles
- Daniels, R., 1986, 'The medieval defences of Hartlepool, Cleveland: the results of excavation and survey' Durham Archaeological Journal Vol. 2 p. 63-72

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The bibliography owes much to various bibliographies produced by John Kenyon for the Council for British Archaeology, the Castle Studies Group and others.

Suggestions for finding online and/or hard copies of bibliographical sources can be seen at this link.
Minor archaeological investigations, such as watching brief reports, and some other 'grey' literature is most likely to be held by H.E.R.s but is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded here, or elsewhere, but some suggestions can be found here.

The possible site or monument is represented on maps as a point location. This is a guide only. It should be noted that OS grid references defines an area, not a point location. In practice this means the actual center of the site or monument may often, but not always, be to the North East of the point shown. Locations derived from OS grid references and from latitude longitiude may differ by a small distance.
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This record last updated on Friday, May 3, 2013

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