Hartlepool Chain Towers (The Gatehouse Record)

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

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)

Sources of information, references and further reading

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s) 27813.
County Historic Environment Record (or Sites and Monuments Record) number(s) 5502 et al.

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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