MONKEY-hanging Hartlepool has been named Britain’s most stereotypical northern town.

Southern experts reckon it is the pride of the north with more chippies, working men’s clubs and steelworks than anywhere else.

The researchers also claim the most southern town in the country is Southampton.

They looked at the number of Rugby Union clubs, wine bars, pie and mash shops, cider makers and ballet schools per head of population.

Hartlepool’s top spot is based on the number of Rugby League clubs, working men’s clubs, fish and chip shops, steel manufacturers and brass bands per person.

Researchers at locallife.co.uk decided the Teesside town, an RU heartland, is as northern as it comes – despite its most famous native being tiny ballet dancer Wayne Sleep, 59.


It’s not all about flat caps and whippets any more

Hartlepudlian Marianne Smedley
Hartlepool famously hanged a monkey locals thought was a French spy during the Napoleonic wars. Hartlepudlian Marianne Smedley, 29, said: “We are proud to be the most northern, but it’s not all about flat caps and whippets any more.”

Tony Martin, from the website, said: “It’s clear the residents of Hartlepool and Southampton are more determined than most to preserve their regional identity.”



Most northern towns:
1, Hartlepool
2, Halifax
3, Rotherham
4, Huddersfield
5, Carlisle

Most southern towns:
1, Southampton
2, Taunton
3, Eastbourne
4, Tunbridge Wells
5, Cheltenham

emma.wall@dailystar.co.uk

What a load of cobblers. Where would you start pulling this to pieces?

Also I'm suddenly in the grip of an urge to strangle the next person I hear mention the monkey-hanging story. Not that I mind the story, just that every teller seems to think he's recounting it for the first time

"Hartlepool’s top spot is based on the number of Rugby League clubs, working men’s clubs, fish and chip shops, steel manufacturers and brass bands per person."

Hartlepool doesn't have any RL clubs that I know of, and the town now only makes a passing reference to steelmaking.
The place isn't exactly brimming with brass bands either.

So the only possibility left is that we have three million chippies and eight million working men's clubs.

Surprised nobody mentioned whippets.