Hartlepool - St Hilda

Hartlepool was founded in the 7th century around Hartlepool Abbey, situated on a headland. As the village grew into a town in the Middle Ages, its harbour served as the official port of the County Palatine of Durham.

St Hilda's, named after St Hilda of Whitby, the founder of Hartlepool Abbey. The first church here was built by the Lindifarne missionaries and rebuilt in the 13th century by the Brus family in the Old English style. The family wanted to have a prominent burial place here.