Exploring the history of Church Street

The Historic Mapping Project gave local people the opportunity to attend workshops where they researched old maps and buildings in the Church Street area and they then worked with an illustrator to draw new maps identifying landmarks, public spaces, meeting places and buildings of particular interest.

Workshop participants included members of the public, youth groups and pupils from Ward Jackson Park

Although the project began in 2019, it was subsequently delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, two banners featuring the new maps drawn by the illustrator and an explanatory panel have been mounted on an external wall of the Northern School of Art building in Church Square.

Emma Ackroyd outside the Northern School of Art

Their unveiling also coincided with the launch of the Church Street Memories window installation at Number 9 Church Street. This is a display of memory postcards relating to the Church Street area submitted by members of the public.

Emma Ackroyd at the Church Street Memories project

It is hoped to add further postcards to the display and people are being asked to email their recollections and photos of Church Street to churchstreetrevival@hartlepool.gov.uk

Both the Historic Mapping Project and the Church Street Memories window installation are part of Hartlepool Borough Council’s Church Street Revival Project which aims to improve the quality of the built environment in the Church Street Conservation Area and raise awareness of the area’s rich heritage – with financial support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Emma Ackroyd, the Council’s Townscape and Heritage Project Officer, said: “I am delighted that these two projects have come to fruition and I would to thank everyone who got involved and made them such a success.

“The banners at the Northern School of Art and the window installation are real talking points, and provide an interesting insight into the history of the Church Street area.”