THC - Offshore Fabricators based at Victoria Dock, imitating the local legend of a monkey once being hung as a 'spy', started their own tradition by "hanging" a full-size effigy of a monkey, dressed in overalls, from their completed oil platform. This practice was discontinued after numerous 999 calls from the public, concerned that someone had hanged themselves from the rig. All later Load Outs had a small cuddly toy monkey attached instead.

Newsprint reels being discharged from a vessel on the Deep Water Berth, Victoria Dock - a bit too heavy for this fork-lift truck!

A view of Hartlepool Headland taken from the tower of St. Hilda's church, circa 1955. The building on the left is Harrison's Chemist where I bought my first camera at 12 years old.
In the background is the CMEW Crane, Swan Neck Crane and the Sheer Legs plus of course the old Coal Staithes.

In the dock are the two tug boats Hart and Stranton and the old dredger Robert de Bruce (red) .  One of the two black funnels is the trawler Friarage which at the time was skippered by Matty Waugh and every time he returned to port he would blow his whistle/horn to the tune of "cock a doodle do"

On the extreme right, the building with the two green doors, is the Ice House where they used to make slabs of ice and crush it for the fishing fleet fed to the boats by the shute which is the black line above the green doors. The black chimney top right is possibly the old rope works.

Aerial View of the Deep Water Berth area Hartlepool Docks, showing cargo storage sheds (Pulp, Newsprint, timber) outside timber storage areas, the Dockmasters Office, and the lock gates leading to the North Basin.

Aerial View Hartlepool Docks, showing Central Dock (left), North Basin (centre), Victoria Dock (right). and the area known as “The Slake” in the background. Cargo Storage sheds, and a vehicle import storage area are in the foreground.

Aerial view of the West Harbour area, with May & Hassle, Timber Importers middle foreground. The Ship Egton is tied up on 'A' Jetty, Union Dock. To the right is the Coal Dock, with HMS Warrior undergoing restoration, with Union Dock, Central Dock, North Basin, and Victoria Dock.

Picture from 1965 with no shipping in Victoria Dock.

An interesting view of the shipping in Victoria Dock on a calm day. To the right, in the distance, is Withy's Quay (later Irvine's Quay), and the swan-neck crane. To the left are Coal Drops Nos. 15 and 16. 

This ship was a general cargo ship built in 1953 and owned by the Stag Line of Newcastle. She is berthed at the Wood Quay in Victoria Dock. The mooring buoys were used by the collier ships at the coal staithes when they were being loaded with coal.

It looks to be the Headland Railway Station  and library to the left.

The coal staithes at the Coal Dock, with Union Dock in the background. 1966.

The coal staithes at Coal Dock, with the Dock Master offices in the background, 1966.

A shipment of coal from Poland arrives at the Deep Water Berth, Victoria Dock, Hartlepool, destined for M&G Fuels, Greenland Road.

Colliers in Victoria Dock. Sir Archibald Page & Southwark.

Colliers in Victoria Dock. Sir Archibald Page, Southwark, Wandsworth & Kingston

A view of the shipping in Victoria Dock looking towards the Headland. The vessels, all colliers, are (L to R):- LONDONBROOK (960grt/1946), (owned by Comben Longstaff), alongside the coal staithes on the Northgate side of the dock; At the buoys in the middle of the dock, LEVENWOOD (1,059grt/1945), (owned by Constantine Shg. Co. Ltd); and CORMOUNT (2,871grt/1944), (owned by Wm. Cory Ltd). At the end of the staithes on the right, between the Old Harbour & the Victoria Dock is  KEYNES(1,563grt/1946) (owned by Stephenson Clark). In the background is the Fish Quay with one of the ports steam tugs berthed alongside.

A view of the shipping in Victoria Dock looking towards the Headland. The flat-iron collier SAMUEL CLEGG (1,773grt/1950). owned by North Thames Gas Board, is lying at the staithes between the Victoria Dock and the Old Harbour.

A view from the top of the coal staithes between the Victoria Dock and the Old Harbour. The collier KEYNES is lying at the staithes, with the CORMOUNT at the buoys.