This article refers to the place; for the Rugby Football Club see West Hartlepool R.F.C.

West Hartlepool refers to the western part of the modern borough of Hartlepool in North East England. Originally it was a separate settlement, with countryside in between, but urban sprawl joined the two towns. It was founded by Ralph Ward Jackson. The term 'West Hartlepool' is mainly now only referred to in reference to sports as opposed to the original Western part of Hartlepool.

The municipal borough of West Hartlepool was created in 1887, and it was promoted in 1902 to be a county borough outside the control of Durham County Council.

In 1967, a county borough, called Hartlepool, was established for both West Hartlepool and old Hartlepool (also adding the parish of Seaton from Stockton Rural District).

Sport

Today the term "West Hartlepool" is rarely heard outside the context of sport, but the town's only premier Rugby Union team still proudly retain the name. West Hartlepool R.F.C. was formed in 1881, and again in 1911, it still plays today.

Until 1967, the football team now known as Hartlepool United was shown in the plural - Hartlepools United - to show its links to both Hartlepool and to West Hartlepool.

Popular Culture

One mention of West Hartlepool in popular culture is by the character Terry Collier in the 1970s BBC sitcom Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? The show was co-written by Ian La Frenais, who was born in Whitley Bay, which is also in the north east of England.

References

• Vision of Britain