Name of new events space announced

Located on the promenade next to the Heugh Battery Museum, it will host open air performances in the spring and summer seasons, whilst also being available for commercial hire and use by community groups for events and activities.

The new outdoor space is being created by the restoration of a previous site which was built in the late 1800s to provide a place for civic, community and cultural events.

work on site is progressing well

It incorporated a bandstand and also served as a viewing platform for the historic Elephant Rock which stood a short distance offshore. This was an elephant-shaped limestone rock formed by a combination of coastal erosion and quarrying. Much of it collapsed into the sea following a storm in 1891.

Councillor Shane Moore, Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council and a Headland and Harbour Ward councillor, said: “The name Elephant Rock has real historical significance for the Headland, and I am delighted that it has been chosen for the new events space. Even though many years have passed since the rock’s destruction, it is still fondly remembered as a historic local landmark and there is a strong sense of pride in it.

“This is highlighted by the fact that the Elephant Rock has also recently been immortalised in the form of a large mural covering the side of the Pot House pub.

“I am confident that the new events space will prove to be a great asset for the Headland and the wider town – staging a variety of open air performances whilst also being a focal point for community events.”

Elaine Gooding, landlady of the Pot House, added: “Elephant Rock will be a great asset. Most pubs on the Headland have some sort of music during the week or on a weekend and it always goes down really, so I think this is going to be a great venue and I love the name.”

Hartlepool-based Seymour Civil Engineering is the principal contractor on the Hartlepool Borough Council project which has been designed by the authority’s own in-house teams. Piling works have been carried out to stabilise the site and new terraced seating has been installed. Other works include the creation of a feature paved area and landscaping of parts of the site. The project is due for completion next month.

Gemma Ptak, Assistant Director (Preventative and Community Based Services) at Hartlepool Borough Council, said: “Elephant Rock is going to be fabulous and it will enable us to stage a really diverse range of events and performances.

“We are lucky to have it in such a stunning location right on the coastline and it is going to be a great asset for years to come.”

Find out more at www.hartlepool.gov.uk/elephant-rock