The Hartlepool Monkey Hangers????

[Northstander]

Further to a previous reply...

If you wanted to know how they got the nickname "The monkey Hangers" Then unbelievably this is it:

It should perhaps be explained that H'Angus is in fact a man named Stuart Drummond, who campaigned in the monkey costume he wore until recently as mascot of the local soccer team, Hartlepool United. The unusual name of the mascot came from a famous incident during the Napoleonic Wars, when a group of people from Hartlepool hanged a monkey because they believed it to be a French spy - hence the fact that Hartlepool people are, to this day, nicknamed 'monkey hangers'.

 

[bhaexpress]

Well, I heard that they thought the monkey was a hairsuit Palarse fan, just hanging about aimlessly waiting to score.

 

[Hungry Joe.]

Fascinating stuff. My Dad insists on calling them Hartlepools, stating that that is their proper name. Any truth in that or has he finally entered the Twilight World Of The Helplessly Bemused?

 

[Braders]

Fascinating stuff. My Dad insists on calling them Hartlepools, stating that that is their proper name. Any truth in that or has he finally entered the Twilight World Of The Helplessly Bemused?

yes , and they used to be called hartlepools but dropped the s...

oh you've probably heard the quiz question!

 

[Reading Posh]

In mitigation for the thickos down the Tees (I'm from Darlington originally) the monkey was wearing a French naval uniform at the time.

It's an easy mistake to make.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

It's a bit of an insult to the monkey isn't it, mixing it up with a Frenchman ?

 

[aftershavedave]

In mitigation for the thickos down the Tees (I'm from Darlington originally) the monkey was wearing a French naval uniform at the time.

It's an easy mistake to make.

to be fair, mrs afters is french and while she never complains about donning the french naval uniform (and others on request ) i've not yet confused her with a monkey it must be said so it can't be all of them.....

 

[Northstander]

So it was a case of ...ooh hello monkey (rather than sailor)



I'll get me coat!

 

[Hungry Joe.]

yes , and they used to be called hartlepools but dropped the s...

oh you've probably heard the quiz question!

Thanks, I'm relieved to a point but I still think the old man's gone a bit loopy. Since his knee replacement he's taken to shouting "sit down!" to anyone in front of him in the South Stand who 'stands up unnecessarily' (including during 'stand up if you want Falmer'). And to think, he used to surge down the North Stand with the best of them, with that look of fear and ecstasy that you only get during a good bundle. Bless him.

I don't think I've heard the quiz question.....

 

[On the Left Wing]

I work 20 miles from Hartlepool - shite hole of a place!

There's even a statue to the blasted monkey ... think if ever a ship washed up there now with a gibbon or two on board, they would probably do the same!

The story is:

The monkey-hanging legend is the most famous story connected with Hartlepool. During the Napoleonic Wars a ship was wrecked off the Hartlepool coast.

During the Napoleonic Wars there was a fear of a French invasion of Britain and much public concern about the possibility of French infiltrators and spies.

The fishermen of Hartlepool fearing an invasion kept a close watch on a French vessel as it struggled against the storm but when the vessel was severely battered and sunk they turned their attention to the wreckage washed ashore. Among the wreckage lay one wet survivor, the ship's pet monkey dressed in a military style uniform.

The fishermen apparently questioned the monkey and held a beach-based trial. Unfamiliar with what a Frenchman looked like they came to the conclusion that this monkey was a French spy and should be sentenced to death. The unfortunate creature was to die by hanging, with the mast of a fishing boat providing a convenient gallows.

 

[aftershavedave]

isn't it true that the monkey was also fined £5? i'm sure i read that somewhere...

 

[Reading Posh]

isn't it true that the monkey was also fined £5? i'm sure i read that somewhere...

He was, but he went ape.

 

[aftershavedave]

He was, but he went ape.

boom boom

 

[aftershavedave]

http://www.totspad.freeserve.co.uk/monkey1.html

is a remarkably naff website with folky music on this subject. complete crap!

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Fascinating stuff. My Dad insists on calling them Hartlepools, stating that that is their proper name. Any truth in that or has he finally entered the Twilight World Of The Helplessly Bemused?

They were called Hartlepools United until 1968, reflecting the fact that the club represented the two separate towns of Old Hartlepool and West Hartlepool.

West Hartlepool is commonly known as British West Hartlepool, thanks to a 1950s "Take It From Here" radio sketch, featuring Jimmy Edwards as Pa Glum, called "Night Train to British West Hartlepool" - although some people claim it was Tony Hancock who dreamt up this version of the name.

Old Hartlepool and West Hartlepool ("The Hartlepools") were merged into the single town of "Hartlepool" in 1967.

 

[Braders]

its bananas innit!

 

[Hungry Joe.]

They were called Hartlepools United until 1968, reflecting the fact that the club represented the two separate towns of Old Hartlepool and West Hartlepool.

West Hartlepool is commonly known as British West Hartlepool, thanks to a 1950s "Take It From Here" radio sketch, featuring Jimmy Edwards as Pa Glum, called "Night Train to British West Hartlepool" - although some people claim it was Tony Hancock who dreamt up this version of the name.

Old Hartlepool and West Hartlepool ("The Hartlepools") were merged into the single town of "Hartlepool" in 1967.

Brilliant stuff, thanks. I was born in 1968 so at least I've got an excuse for thinking my Dad was mad, which he clearly is. I think I may start referring to Upper B-ding as British Upper Beeding, it's got a nice ring to it.

 

[scotjem]

Brilliant stuff, thanks. I was born in 1968 so at least I've got an excuse for thinking my Dad was mad, which he clearly is. I think I may start referring to Upper B-ding as British Upper Beeding, it's got a nice ring to it.

And why are you Upper, when the one near Horsham is Lower ?

 

[Lord Bracknell]

St.Peter’s Parish Church is the parish church of Beeding in West Sussex.

Today the village is normally called “Upper Beeding”, but the church sticks to the more ancient title.

There is a village of ‘Lower Beeding’, which was founded by monks from St.Peter’s - hence the modern practice of calling (original) Beeding, “Upper Beeding”.

Same with Upper Dicker and Lower Dicker.

Upper is the older, more senior, of the two.

 

[scotjem]

Excellent practice. Think I qualify as an Upper.